Another Green Car Ad Gets Suicidal

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

First it was the Prius, now Audi has come out with an ad featuring failed suicide. In both cases, the intended message (our car doesn’t spew poison) gets a bit lost in shuffle due to the fact that consumers of these products are portrayed attempting suicide. So this is what Audi’s CMO meant when he said rational arguments don’t work in the marketplace. Unfortunately, as the California Air Resources Board helpfully points out, diesel fumes contain arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, nickel, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. So, you know, professional driver on a closed course, and all that. Don’t try this at home, kids!


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Jan 06, 2010

    What Chuck said-- +10

    And, what a nutty advert. What were they thinking?
  • CyCarConsulting CyCarConsulting on Jan 06, 2010

    He was trying to kill himself because his car payment is $650/month and his warranty has expired.

  • Mikey Mikey on Jan 06, 2010

    Speaking as someone that had a coworker do that very act successfully. I find the ad disgusting.

    • Sinistermisterman Sinistermisterman on Jan 07, 2010

      Agreed. I know someone who was pulled out of their car by a friend before they did any serious harm to themselves. This is just sick. I don't normally swear but - Audi - Go f*ck yourself. Suicide is a horrible and traumatic experience and should not be trivialized to sell a f*cking car.

  • No_slushbox No_slushbox on Jan 06, 2010

    The Toyota one is obviously fake, even in something viral Toyota wouldn't show a dealer plate frame. This is fake also. But it's harder to tell because the Germans do have sick humor and because buying an Audi may make a person want to end it. What's really sad is that millions of people who want to live are killed in fires each year because of their Audis' faulty electrical systems. It has been around the internet a million times, but the VW Polo bomber is still the best dark humor fake auto ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRhdjPIa4J0

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