Audi sparks outrage in China after it compares women to second hand cars

German carmaker Audi has sparked outrage in China after it likened women to second hand cars in an advert.

The advert depicts a wedding ceremony which is interrupted by the groom’s mother who begins to examine the bride, checking her teeth and behind her ears, much to the young woman’s displeasure.

The ceremony continues after the mother gives the OK signal to the couple. But the mother then takes aim at the bride once more, signaling that she forgot to check her breasts.

The advert then cuts away to an image of an Audi car with the voiceover: “An important decision must be made carefully”.

Viewers are then encouraged to visit Audi’s second hand car sales website.

The advert, which appears on the Chinese Internet and at cinemas, has provoked a furious backlash on the Chinese Internet.

“Has Audi lost its mind to compare women to second hand cars,” said one comment on Sina Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.

“Withdraw the video from the Internet and apologise in public!” said another.

Many people criticised Audi for stereotyping the Chinese family as one which is dominated by an over-bearing mother-in-law who rules over the submissive daughter-in-law.