Indian campaigners have accused the car company Ford of sabotaging attempts to reduce the rising number of rapes after an advertisement showed three scantily-dressed young women in the boot of its Figo car.
The ad, which was produced by its Indian advertising agency JWT, provoked an outcry after it was released onto the internet with women’s rights groups attacking the company for insensitivity.
It emerged a few days after the Indian parliament passed a new anti-rape law to impose tougher sentences, including the death penalty, for gang-rapes and sexual assaults where the victim dies or is left in a permanent vegetative state.
Ford’s advertisement to promote the large boot space in its Figo small car – the Indian version of the Fiesta – features three voluptuous young women. All have their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged. Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, who has been beset by sex scandals in Italy, beams proudly while giving a V-sign. The caption reads: “Leave your worries behind with the Figo’s extra-large boot.”
The advertisement was quickly disowned by Ford which said it had not authorised its publication.
“We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened,” they said in a statement given to The Hindu newspaper. “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.”
