Put Your Clothes On - You Are Under Arrest
Not enough that people in Belgium are losing their appetite for cars (last we looked the market was down 11 percent), now people have even less reason to go to the Brussels motor show: Belgium’s equal opportunities minister Joelle Milquet asked carmakers to keep their product specialists fully dressed.
“A motor show is a place where you go with your family, we have to question the stereotypes we are passing on to children and young adults,” the minister wrote in a letter obtained by Reuters. The missive was allegedly prompted by lewd behavior on the part of some male visitors at last year’s event.
Belgian car federation Febiac, which organizes the annual event, said that following the letter it had asked carmakers to ensure appropriate dress at their stands.
Carmakers assured compliance. TTAC has obtained a preview image of models rehearsing for this year’s event.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
More by Bertel Schmitt
Comments
Join the conversation
"The Beijing's Capital Ethics Development Office said on its website that the revealing clothing of some models at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition has had a "negative social impact." The office criticized the "vulgar publicity" surrounding the models. The exhibition's organizers were asked to correct the situation on Thursday to ensure that it does not happen again." So a Belgian government minister and China's one party state government are equally prudish. Discuss amongst yourselves.
It's amazing how many people thing only they can decide on freedom of speech and expression for others. In the U.S., the founding fathers never promised good taste.