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Kia ‘Zombie‑Proof’ EV Ad Tops 2025 Complaints as Regulator Finds Road‑Rules Breach

The Community Panel said the spot’s remote parking scene promoted a driverless function not permitted for general use in Australia.

Overview

  • Ad Standards logged roughly 5,000 complaints across more than 230 ads in 2025, with concerns most often about sex, nudity, violence, and health and safety.
  • Kia’s campaign drew 86 complaints, many saying the zombie theme could frighten children, but the breach ruling centred on the EV’s remote parking assist depiction.
  • The Panel found showing the feature operating without a driver in control would likely contravene Australian road rules on automated driving technologies.
  • Kia defended the ad’s fantastical context and noted a disclaimer, acknowledging the shown use is not permitted in Western Australia.
  • Most other highly complained‑about ads were cleared, though Big W had a separate breach over a child’s blurred rude gesture and withdrew the spot, while Dettol’s nose‑picking ad was found compliant.