Nissan orders Israeli Ally to pull commercial.

Hat tip to Jihad Watch




This cute commercial has caused Saudi Arabia to have a fit. Gulf states are threatening to boycott Nissan. The reason? A new Nissan commercial airing in Israel has offended the oil-rich Arabs. The commercial depicts a group of robe-flowing sheikhs walking out of a building only to encounter the new Nissan Tiida car, touted for its fuel efficiency. The Saudis slowly walk towards the vehicle, and then begin abusing it -- first verbally then physically. One Saudi shouts "You've ruined my house!" (colloquial Arabic for "You've put me out of business!"). As he's being carried away, he hollers one last curse, literally: "May Abu Tiida be cursed!" Since "Abu" means "father of," that's another way of saying, "May Nissan be cursed," as the Japanese company is "father" to the model (pretty slick marketing move, portraying Nissan as the solution for high oil prices).

So what did Nissan do? They caved in to Muslim demands.

Nissan Motor Company has ordered its Israeli business ally to immediately stop airing a television commercial

depicting Arab oil barons angered at the high fuel efficiency of a Nissan car, officials of the automaker said Thursday.

"The commercial was produced by a local automobile distributor based on its own judgment, and Nissan Motor has nothing to do with the commercial," a Nissan spokesman in Japan said.

I find this offensive and have sent them off an angry e-mail about it. I could only find the US address, but told them that I will never buy a Nissan car due to this policy. If Arabs are offended, too bad. But it is a cute commercial and should never have been pulled.

If you wish to join in with this boycott (buy American any way) you can send a message to them here. Or through here:

Nissan Consumer Affairs

P.O. Box 685003
Franklin TN 37068-5003
(800) NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261)
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tell them that you will boycott their cars until they reinstate that commercial. After all Americans buy more cars than Saudis. A lot more cars.

I personally am looking at the Honda. They have the right message for their commercials as seen below: