AUDI

After VW was accused of racist in advertising, Audi is now accused of sexualizing its advertising

For some, the Volkswagen Group does not seem to be getting it right in the content or in the form of its ads, while others consider that the Germans pay too much attention to social networks and comment boxes. But the reality is that, about two months after Volkswagen withdrew an advertisement for the 8th generation of Golf, accused of being racist, now it is the turn of Audi to be associated with an advertisement that promotes the insecurity and exploitation of a sexually image suggestive of a child.
In the ad in question it is possible to see a child, who appears to be around 5 years old, leaning in front of an Audi RS4, one of the family's sporty models of the brand. The child looks adorable, like all children, and the Audi looks aggressive, as is usual in the most powerful versions of any manufacturer.


The campaign was broadcast on Twitter on Sunday(08/02), associated with the phrase “Lets your heart beat faster - in every aspect” (“Let your heart beat faster - in every aspect”). But the ad, which could be somewhere between interesting or boring for most people, who usually like children and cars, has sparked controversy and many critical comments.
Some accused the advertisement of being “unsafe”, as the child was in front of the car in a position that would make it difficult for the driver to see. But stranger was the second type of accusations that RS4 advertising gave rise to, with Audi being accused of exploiting a child with “sexually explicit” images, which gave rise to “service opinionators” ”To social networks if they attacked each other.
Despite the announcement appearing to be normal and as innocuous as so many others that are daily broadcast on television and by the other media, the confusion that triggered it was once again considered excessive for a Volkswagen Group brand, with Audi choosing to withdraw the campaign.
The four-ring mark also claimed that the Audi RS4 was equipped with more than 30 driving assistance systems, including emergency braking that prevents pedestrians from being run over, but it was no use. In the end, he ended up apologizing and classifying the ad as “insensitive”, leaving the promise that he would study the subject internally to ensure that it doesn't happen again. In essence, the same words that Volkswagen used months before.

Autonews