France has just banned a commercial for a Dutch bicycle over concerns that the commercial creates a “climate of fear” about cars. The ad, which has been aired on both Dutch and German television, is apparently worrying France’s advertising regulation authority, as they believe the ad unfairly discredits the automobile industry.
The ad, for the VanMoof e-bike, features a shiny black car reflecting images of chimneys, flashing emergency lights, and traffic jams. The car then melts and transforms into the VanMoof bike, with the caption, “Time to ride the future.” According to the French advertising code, exploitation of fear and suffering is prohibited in commercials, and this ad is considered to be in violation of that code.
