- The ARB upheld a complaint about a claim that the Jetour X70 Plus Deluxe comes with keys enabling remote engine start.
- Jetour South Africa did not respond to the complaint, even though they were invited to take part in the process.
- ARB members have been asked not to accept any advertising that suggests the vehicle includes the disputed feature.
A Jetour X70 Plus Deluxe was advertised as having keys with remote engine start capability, but this feature does not appear to be available. The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) upheld a consumer complaint and found the claim likely to mislead buyers.
The complaint was about advertising on Jetour South Africa's website, which said that the X70 Plus Deluxe comes with two “Rubik's Cube Key with Remote Engine Start” devices.
The complainant said the claim created the expectation that the vehicle could be started from outside using the supplied keys. However, the keys delivered with the vehicle did not have this feature, according to the consumer.
Consumer challenges advertised feature
The complainant told the ARB that the vehicle's keys could not remotely start the engine, even though the feature was advertised. According to the ruling, the complainant said, “The keys given do not have the capability of starting the vehicle from outside.”
The Directorate considered whether this could be a vehicle malfunction or a service issue. However, it found that the complaint was actually about the keys supplied with the vehicle not having the advertised capability at all.
Jetour does not respond
Jetour South Africa was invited to respond but chose not to participate in the proceedings. The Directorate noted that, although it was unclear why the advertiser chose not to respond, the ARB was still required to consider the complaint. The ruling says, “The ARB remains obligated to consider the matter even if an advertiser does not respond.”
The Directorate also noted that, while the ARB may not issue binding rulings against non-members who have not agreed to its authority, it can still consider complaints and issue guidance to its members about advertising.
Discrepancy identified in marketing material
In looking at the complaint, the Directorate also examined information from other Jetour marketing materials. It found that the manufacturer's downloadable brochure for the X70 Plus did not mention remote engine start functionality. Instead, the brochure listed a “Remote Key” along with a “Keyless Start System and Entry System”.
The Directorate pointed out that these are different features from remote engine ignition. It also noted that vehicle reviews examined during the investigation did not show the X70 Plus range included remote engine start functionality, although some reports suggested the feature was available on other Jetour models.
The ruling says, “The absence of a response makes it difficult to refute the complainant's allegations, especially given the clear discrepancy between the advertiser's website claims and the claims in the downloadable brochure.”
Claim found likely to mislead consumers
The complaint was assessed under Clause 4.2.1 of Section II of the Code of Advertising Practice, which prohibits advertising that is likely to mislead consumers through ambiguity, inaccuracy, omission, or exaggerated claims. With no evidence to support the website's claim, the Directorate concluded that consumers were likely to be misled.
According to the ruling, “In the absence of a response, and with nothing to contradict the complainant's submissions or to prove that this vehicle comes with keys that allow for a ‘Remote Engine Start’, the Directorate has no choice but to find that the claim appears to be incorrect and likely to mislead people.”
The Directorate therefore found that the claim “Rubik's Cube Key with Remote Engine Start” went against Clause 4.2.1 of Section II of the Code.
ARB issues instructions to members
As a result of the ruling, ARB members have been asked not to accept any advertising that creates the expectation that the Jetour X70 Plus Deluxe comes with “Rubik's Cube Key with Remote Engine Start” functionality.
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