This car ad is now banned in Britain

The British advertising watchdog has banned a Toyota commercial for the Hilux SUV. The stated reason is that the advertisement in question promotes environmentally harmful behavior. The site shows several cars driving off-road through a cloud of dust and then returning to a paved road. His slogan ‘Born to roam’ is taken from the song title ‘Born to run’ by Bruce Springsteen.

The advertising regulator explained that the spot had no sense of responsibility to society. Toyota may no longer publish the advertisement in its current form and must ensure that such statements are avoided in future advertisements.

However, the clip can still be found on video platforms such as YouTube.

Environmental protection as a counterargument

Toyota emphasized its commitment to environmental protection and highlighted hybrid and electric car models in its product portfolio. The British regulator’s decision follows a complaint from the organization Adfree Cities, which is critical of SUV advertising.

“False promises of adventure”

The organisation’s co-chair, Veronica Wignall, argued that off-road vehicles were often advertised with a ‘false promise of adventure’. She emphasized that SUVs harm nature, pollute the air, overload cities and cause tragic accidents. Wignall therefore called for a complete ban on SUV advertising.