Nissan Motor’s New Zealand unit has withdrawn a television advertisement featuring Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall after complaints the advert used “sexually explicit language in order to promote the attributes of the vehicle”.
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The advert, promoting the Tiida model, called the Versa in some markets, shows Cattrall making a number of statements in a suggestive manner and using double entendres, the country’s advertising standards authority said.
In response, Nissan New Zealand told the complaints board: “[We] made the decision to remove the TVC in question based on consumer response received shortly after its initial airing. Although the TVC was sourced internationally and was approved by the TVCAB, we made this decision in the interest of self-regulation and in response to public feedback.”
Just-auto understands the ad has also screened – without complaint – in Australia where two versions are available for viewing on Nissan Australia’s web site.
Toyota New Zealand has also recently dealt with complaints about a TV ad. It successfully appealed against a temporary ban on its RAV4 commercial, which was taken off air following complaints it was too extreme, but reinstated after the automaker agreed to restrict the screening schedule to adult viewing hours.
