Green claims complaint rejected by regulator
The advertising regulator today released good news for marketers of electric cars. The Advertising Standards Authority rejected a complaint about the marketing of the new Nissan Leaf which claimed the car had “zero emissions whilst driving.”
Ian Twinn of advertiser body ISBA said: “Advertisers strongly support the ASA decision that a suitably qualified claim for zero emissions can be both accurate and a help to consumers.
“Car advertisers had felt frustrated that, as they rolled out better and better electric car technology, they were being penalised over making the obvious claim that the vehicles did not emit CO2 (other than from the manufacturing process and in the fuel preparation).
“Consumers were prevented from hearing about the opportunities and benefits.”
This latest ruling follows an ASA adjudication in January that set a precedent in green claims for electric cars when Vauxhall’s advertising for its Ampera model received the regulator’s backing.