Much like the UK, Australia takes marketing content very seriously. This explains why a number of car ads have made headlines over the years for being in violation of the advertising code. Toyota is the latest to fall foul of it.
Available below is a new ad for the entire Yaris family from Toyota. The message is totally wholesome, as would be expected for the Yaris: three adult children are supposed to be meeting at their parents’ home for some sort of family celebration. The ad doesn’t specifically say what kind of gathering, but there’s cake involved, and it bears a picture of mom and dad, with the message “Happy 30th anniversary.” Aw.
Only one of the three kids has remembered the special day, and she’s trying to get the other two to arrive on time. The boy of the family is working on something in his garage so, when he’s reminded of the family get-together, he jumps into his 2021 GR Yaris and speeds off. In doing so, he powerslides out of the garage and, for less than a couple of seconds, breaks traction. Later in the 30-second video, he’s shown speeding on what is clearly a backcountry road.
Several complaints were lodged with Australia’s Advertisement Standards Bureau regarding the video, which, apparently, was deemed “very dangerous”for promoting reckless behavior at the wheel. Specifically, complaints claimed the ad was in violation of the Federal Chamber for Automotive Industries Motor Vehicle Advertising Code regarding unsafe driving and breaking the speed limit, according to Car Expert.
The Advertisement Standards Bureau eventually ruled that the ad didn’t show driving above the speed limit, but it did promote unsafe driving for that two-second powerslide. As such, the ad has been pulled.
“Toyota takes the opinion of the complainant very seriously,” Toyota says in a statement to the same media outlet. “However, it is our belief that the Advertisement does not contravene the FCAI Code or the applicable laws and regulations that govern community roads and driving standards.”
Now, if only that unfortunate pirate porch whose Yaris got stuck in the tiniest snowbank on his victim’s driveway had seen this oh so dangerous ad promoting such dangerous behavior prior to his attempt to steal packages.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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