Car yard’s ‘MILF ad’ banned after being ‘inappropriate’ over ‘sexual innuendo’

A car yard in New Zealand has had its ad banned after it received complaints about its "sexual innuendos" that were deemed "inappropriate" to its target audience.

Portage Cars is known for its comedic style of ads — but it seems its most recent one has taken a step too far when it comes to advertising standards.

The offending video sees social media star Kiedis Haze telling potential buyers that they would "look like a MILF" driving a plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander.

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He even made the comments "doing the deed under the fireworks at New Year’s" and "plug which matches the inserting action you’ve been getting".

The ad was banned after a formal complaint was made to the Advertising Standards Authority claiming the Portage Cars ad was "not only insulting but highly sexualised and not appropriate for a general audience in which it is promoted to".

However, there were also complaints about the company alleging that they have the "easiest finance in the world", without being able to back up the claim.

In their response, Portage Cars said the video was not intended as an advertisement, but more as a "funny car review that generates social media and brand awareness".

Watch other Portage Cars videos here:

They added: "Clearly the saying ‘easiest finance in the world’ was said in jest, saying something is the easiest in the world is a common turn of phrase in New Zealand.

"The complainant has taken a light-hearted, satirical car review seriously without understating the New Zealand sense of humour."

The authority ruled the ad was misleading and ordered Portage Cars to take it down from YouTube.

Portage Cars general manager Craig Rutherford told NZME the ruling was a good test case for what they can and can’t say in their marketing as they plan on continuing to make the videos.

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He said: “We look at those videos as more of a review than an advertisement because we keep the details pretty minimal.

“They’re working. If we’ve had a vehicle in stock for awhile we’ll do a review on it and it will sell pretty much straight away.

“We’ve got customers asking where… [Haze] is all the time.”

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