Ford India apologises for Berlusconi bondage ad

The Indian arm of car giant Ford has apologised over an advertisement depicting former Italian prime pinister Silvio Berlusconi with a trio of bound women in the boot of a car.

The image appeared over the weekend on a website showcasing creative ads. Featuring Ford’s logo, it showed three women bound and gagged in the boot of a Ford Figo with Mr Berlusconi smiling from the driver’s seat alongside the slogan “Leave your worries behind”.

Never used commercially, the ad was reportedly posted online by its creators at an advertising agency hired by Ford.

The company said today that it regrets the incident, calling the images “contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford”.

A spokesman said the company is investigating whether anyone at Ford ever saw the ad.