Ford India apologise over ‘demeaning’ adverts
A Ford India spokeswoman said the company is investigating whether anyone at the carmaker ever saw the print ads, which were never used commercially but appeared over the weekend on a website showcasing creative advertising.
The ads caused an uproar online and came just after India passed a new law on violence against women following a fatal gang rape of a student on a bus that prompted mass protests and spotlighted the status of women in India.
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Hide AdOne ad showed three women bound and gagged in the boot of an Indian-made car, the Ford Figo, with Mr Berlusconi smiling from the driver’s seat. A slogan read: “Leave your worries behind with the Figo’s extra-large boot.”
Ford said it regrets the incident, calling the images “contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford.”