German Carmaker, Audi issues Public Apology, to Drop Insensitive and Suggestive AD Post

After an ad for its RS 4 model didn’t sit well with viewers, the German carmaker, Audi is in hot water. Viewers complained about the insensitive and suggestive imagery – young girl, banana, high-performance sports car, and its red color. The caption on the image read, “Lets your heart beat faster – in every aspect.”

The image, posted on the company’s Twitter account, shows a young girl eating a banana as she leans on the grille of the RS 4, which, Audi says, is a family car.

The carmaker said, “We hear you, and let’s get this straight: We care for children. The Audi RS 4 is a family car with more than 30 driver assistance systems, including an emergency brake system. That’s why we showcased it with various family members for the campaign.”
“We hoped we could convey these messages, showing that even for the weakest traffic participants, it is possible to relaxingly lean on the RS technology. That was a mistake! Audi never intended to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Audi added, “We sincerely apologize for this insensitive image and ensure that it will not be used in the future. We will also immediately examine internally, how this campaign has been created, and if control mechanisms failed in this case.”