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It's New Zealand's most popular TV ad - but it's too hot to handle for the Australians.
The award-winning commercial, featuring a toddler in nappies driving a four-wheel-drive Hyundai, has been banned in Australia because of fears toddlers there will copy it.
Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau said yesterday it pulled the ad for Hyundai's Santa Fe 4WD after more than 80 viewer complaints.
Hyundai last night indicated it would probably challenge the axing of the New Zealand-made television advertisement.
The ad was voted most popular here by Fair Go viewers and survived more than 60 complaints from New Zealand viewers.
Australian standards bureau chief executive Mark Jeanes said the ad depicted an illegal driving practice.
"The board acknowledged that the notion of a toddler driving a car was fanciful, but under the Advertising for Motor Vehicles Voluntary Code of Practice, fantasy cannot be used when it contradicts, circumvents or undermines the code," he said.
"Many of the complaints were from parents concerned that the ad would encourage copycat behaviour in young children and might lead to accidents."
The fact the toddlers wore seatbelts instead of approved child restraints also breached safety recommendations.
Hyundai New Zealand managing director Philip Eustace said last night he was certain Hyundai Australia would appeal.
"It's meant to be fun and shouldn't be taken any other way."
But one of the New Zealand complainants said her toddler son had tried to copy the ad, trying to break into the family car, damaging paintwork in the process.
