Ford India Under Fire For Controversial Advertisements


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350Z

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Ford India has ended up in a controversial situation. Their advertising partner, JWT India, inadvertently uploaded images of unapproved ads on a website.

“We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened. The posters are contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford and our agency partners. Together with our partners, we are reviewing approval and oversight processes to help ensure nothing like this ever happens again.” Ford India said in a statement to The Hindu. Another advertisement, with the same tagline, shows a caricature of Paris Hilton smiling, while TV reality stars the Kardashians are gagged and bound in the back of the Figo.

Both spots have sparked controversy in Italy, with Ford Italy ‘disassociating itself from the company’s Indian operations’, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The draft advertisement was presumably outsourced to JWT India, and meant for the Italian and American markets. The WPP Group, of which JWT India is a subsidiary, has said the posters were never intended for paid publication and should have not been uploaded to the Internet.

“We deeply regret the publishing of posters that were distasteful and contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within WPP Group. This was the result of individuals acting without proper oversight and appropriate actions have been taken within the agency,” the Group said in a statement.
Source: The Hindu

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Ford-India-Controversial-Advertisement-Italy.jpg

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350Z
 
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@Vibhor,

Hahahahahah, The advt are very funny to me, it makes fun but never increase the sales according to me, but I wonder how come a agency alone will publish such advertisements without the notice of Ford [surprise] and ofcourse the advertisements are objectionable too !!
 
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I do not understand, what is the necessity for this advertisement. Ford Figo (specially D) sells in decent numbers. People who buy they know its a VFM car but space is little cramped inside.

If Ford India really needs to spend money on advertising it should be on New Fiesta.

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Anshuman
 
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Figo is not doing great numbers in the recent past and it is the advertisement they have to concentrate on but building better cars.

@Anshuman – The new fiesta is a global model and it is doing decent numbers across the globe. Though we don’t see more cars on our soil the global sale is decent enough,
 
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Yes, Fiesta may be doing good on global sales, but new fiesta failed to attract the crowds mainly due to its pricing and as well poor advertisement too. Yes Ford need to focus New Fiesta with good advertisements and reduction in price, but at the same time a advertisement should be decent enough too
 
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AFTERMATH OF FORD FIGO CONTROVERSIAL ADS: JWT INDIA CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER BOBBY PAWAR SACKED

Amidst international uproar over the Ads, JWT India has gone a step ahead and has sacked its chief creative officer and managing partner, Mr Bobby Pawar. Another t0p executive in charge of the Ford India account at JWT India, Mr Vijay Simha Vellanki, is also in the firing line.
Aftermath of Ford Figo Controversial Ads: JWT India Chief Creative Officer Bobby Pawar sacked - Indian Cars Bikes
 
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@Visran

Hahahahhaha entire episode looks to be very funny to me[lol], How come such high profile creative people make such advertisements which work only few African countries[lol] and how Ford is sleeping while the release of advertisements
 
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FIGO SEXIST AD CONTROVERSY UPDATE: UNNAMED FORD INDIA EMPLOYEE SHOWN THE DOOR

The Ford employee in question is said to have been shown the door, ostensibly for her or his involvement in the production/vetting of the objectionable ads involving Ford’s best selling car model, the Figo hatchback. This pretty much seems like the conclusion to the controversy generated by the Ads. Both Ford India and JWT India, through their prompt public apologies, have assured the world that their oversight measures would be strengthened suitably to avoid a repeat of such an incident.
Figo Sexist Ad controversy update: Unnamed Ford India employee shown the door - Indian Cars Bikes
 
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I feel very pity for that lady but either way ford also getting some publicity through this ad.
 
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