Automotive advertising can often be hit or miss. Many times, marketing teams seem to try too hard resulting in cringeworthy car marketing.
One example is Volkswagen’s ads filled with cars that are no longer in production or no longer sold in the US. These ads are seen as a failed attempt to provoke nostalgia for the brand. This marketing campaign is especially embarrassing considering how the brand has been criticized for failing to understand the U.S. market.
Another cringe-inducing campaign is that by Ford, where they tried to claim that their Granada model was a better vehicle than the esteemed Mercedes W114. The basis of the comparison was laughable, considering the Mercedes model is one of the most important models in the company’s history.
Lincoln’s Matthew McConaughey ads also drew attention for their oddity. The ads featured the celebrity in deep thought while driving, which was supposedly a way to sell cars. The series was widely parodied, reminding audiences of how bizarre they were.
Dodge’s Hornet commercial tried to place the vehicle on par with Chargers and Challengers, failing to convince audiences. Ads that declared, “that’s a Buick,” were seen as unnecessary due to the obvious branding and styling of the vehicles.
Equally absurd were advertisements for a seventh-generation Camry claiming it to be “grounded to the ground.” A Nissan Frontier ad went so far as to depict the truck saving a plane that lost its front landing gear, a scenario that would be impossible in real life.
Chevy also joined the list with their “Real People. Not Actors” ads that were universally panned for their unrealistic portrayals. Lastly, Chrysler’s “Imported From Detroit” ads for the 200 model drew criticism, painting the car as a premium product from a city with a declining automobile industry.
Source: This Is The Cringiest Car Marketing You’ve Ever Seen
