Toyota Ad Campaign: Triple Loser

This Toyota ad — overlooking a major road near my home — fails on three counts:

1) Bad taste. The double entendre is too clever by half.

2) Missed Message. Environmentalists want more hybrids, more action; fewer billboards.

3) Inauthentic. The ad campaign is self-righteous and edgy in emissions’ emotion. But Toyota is suing in California against pollution legislation.

Market forces and consumer demand will drive manufacturers to build and give us the vehicles we want.

But Toyota’s ad campaign is in conflict with company policy. Toyota’s marketing is lipstick on a lawsuit.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Picture from Reasoned Audacity.

The National Environmental Trust calls the ad campaign “greenwashing:”

Toyota itself remains part of the lawsuit to block California’s breakthrough law to reduce global warming pollution from vehicles.

Toyota should have hired Maneuver Marketing for advice.

Marketing Playbook has outstanding analysis.

Being Reasonable has a different angle.