An Audi commercial that aired in China is drawing anger and criticism for comparing women to used cars.
It starts off innocently enough. A bride and groom stand at the alter, enduring the most heart-thumping moment of their lives as they prepare to take their vows.
But then the grooms mother seems to have some final concerns.
"Wait a minute," she shouts as she frantically approaches the young couple, grabs the brides noes, checks behind her ear and examines the brides mouth.
"What are you doing!?" asks the horrified groom as he pulls the mother away.
The mother then begins to walk back to her seat, and turns around to signals an 'Okay' hand sign to the couple.
The bride and groom seem relieved. But it's short-lived as the mother glances back at the brides breasts.
The ad then cuts to a red Audi A3 on a motorway as the a voice actor announces, "an important decision must be made carefully."
The ad encourages viewers to consider "Audi-approved" secondhad cars. "Only with an official certification can you rest easy," says the voice actor in the final line.
On Twitter and Weibo (a Chinese social media platform), people have criticized the commercial as sexist and "disgusting."
"I am not a woman and I am disgusted. I'll turn to Cadillac …” said one Weibo user.
“We had a Volkswagen at home and my husband planned to get an Audi,” another Weibo user said.
“I was against it — and now I see it is definitely impossible to buy any Audi car. They build shoddy cars and make a huge profit in China, and now release such a vulgar commercial. Shame on you, Audi.”
One twitter user simply added: "How to make an ad that will turn off customers."
An Audi spokesman has told the South China Morning Post that the company is looking into the commercial and that it was produced by a joint-venture partner.