Badvert of the Month: Nissan Juke
Company: Nissan
Model: Nissan Juke
Location: Twitter advert
Together let’s move beyond - climate breakdown ?
With new “smart technology” features added to its SUV model, Nissan’s plan to unveil a new generation of cars is nothing less than a step backwards. The model produces around 138g of CO2 per kilometer despite the EU standard clearly stating that new models should be 95 g of CO2 per kilometer for new models sold from 2020 onwards. This advert paints a positive and optimistic picture of the future by using a utopian image of a city skyline in the backdrop. They make a misleading attempt to paint a utopian world in which it is acceptable for car makers to create and market cars that surpass healthy levels of greenhouse gas emissions. When in reality it is a dystopian climate crisis they are leading us towards By using this kind of artificial imagery and association to the model; the advert encourages superfluous levels of consumption. Really if we are going to ‘move beyond’ as the advert suggests we should be looking at creating a healthier and happier environment for our futures.
Everyday is a holiday when ignoring the climate crisis
‘This summer our cars come with a payment holiday’- sounds great does it not? Use of these compelling sales techniques convinces the consumer that they are in fact getting a great deal. These adverts on social media platforms use precise algorithms to target consumers specifically searching for cars or similar content on the internet. The company tries to persuade the buyer that it is a bargain; when in fact no price can be put on the future of us and our planet.
Nissan to follow suit VW and Mercedes on cheating emission tests
Nissan continues to put profits before people and the planet. The Nissan company alongside others has recently been accused for cheating emissions tests on their vehicles. In June 2020 Nissan was sued in the UK for equipping their engines with illegal defeat devices based upon evidence from 2017 given by the Department for Transport. These ‘devices turn emissions controls on when the vehicle is being tested, but switches them off when being used on the road’- in order to improve performance and reliability. Despite Nissan denying claims, Emission Analytics found that some models produced up to 16 times more Nitrogen Oxide in reality compared to the official levels stated by the company. Nitrogen Oxide is estimated to be around 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide and detrimental not only to human health but also playing a significant role in global warming.
Company background: Nissan
Nissan, a Japanese multinational car manufacturer, was founded in 1911 as Japan’s first automobile company (back then it was named the Kaishinsha Motor Car Works). Originally, the company was producing army and utility trucks as there was no market for passengers in Japan. Since 1999, Nissan has formed together with Mitsubishi Motors of Japan and Renault of France, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The company sells cars under the brand names of Nissan, Infinity and Datsun. The car manufacturer is the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer at 320’000 vehicles sold in 2018. The Nissan LEAF, a plug-in electric car with motorway capacity, encountered global success and became the car manufacturer’s best selling electric model. In 2018, the company director Hiroto Saikawa announced that all new Infinity models launched in 2021 would either be hybrid or electric.