BYD Ad Banned For Roasting Stellantis In Trade-In Offer

6 months ago by schizoidman to c/electricvehicles

BYD's latest offer to customers trading in a car with a wet timing belt ruffled a few feathers over at Stellantis

BYD used the ad to offer buyers up to €10,000 ($11,800) to those who bought a car and traded in a vehicle with a wet timing belt. That just happens to describe the timing system used in Stellantis’ PureTech engines, which run belts through a constant oil bath. These engines have been at the center of several recalls and warranty extensions linked to long-term reliability issues.

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Buffalox 10 points 6 months ago

The IAP ruled that these messages violated Italian advertising rules against defamation, misleading commercial communication, and unfair comparative advertising.

Good call by the Italian authorities, I admit the way BYD did it as a trade-in offer is pretty clever, but comparative advertising is near impossible to do legally in EU exactly for the reasons stated. It will almost always be unfair and misleading, as it focus on features that disfavor the competition. This can quickly become an issue of actual defamation.

On another note, Chinese car makers can apparently make deals with EU for lower tariffs if they promise to not sell their cars too cheap. But how does that work when they make attractive trade-in offers?

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dupelet_comments 10 points 6 months ago

How is it defamation if it's true?

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QWho 0 points 6 months ago

It will almost always be unfair and misleading, as it focus on features that disfavor the competition.

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SaveTheTuaHawk 2 points 6 months ago

But it's neither unfair or misleading. Those belts are a known problem.

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QWho 0 points 6 months ago

I think the rules are there to prevent a slippery slope. Ads, which I personally oppose as a whole, can always state positive thinks about the own brand.

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SaveTheTuaHawk 2 points 6 months ago

The rules are there to protect a large corporation and keep them selling defective products to customers.

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QWho 0 points 6 months ago

True. But BYD is also a very, very large corporation.

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