Chevy Volt European Ads Banned for Misleading Claim
The distinction between a hybrid and a range-extended hybrid is still confusing to some people, and GM’s European branch, Vauxhall, is getting in some hot water after misleading people in ads for the Ampera, sister car to the Volt.
The commercial talks about the vehicle being electrically driven, but neglects to mention the small gasoline engine which pumps juice back into the electric motors. Technically, a range extended hybrid is powered by electricity at all times, but there is a gasoline engine to charge the batteries when they run out of juice.
Near the end of the spot, text flashes across the screen claiming a “360-mile range,” which is the part the Advertising Standards Authority had an issue with.
“We considered that throughout the ad the emphasis was on the fact that the car was being driven electrically, and that most viewers would not understand that the car was in some circumstances being powered by electricity generated with a petrol engine,” said the organization.
The commercial has now been banned from European television, and will probably be fixed by the company.
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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