Formula 1 isn’t the only thing that is saying goodbye to the supporting cast of ladies that have been a fixture at its events over the years. The auto industry looks set to follow the route taken by motorsports – which is ending the use of its “grid girls” from this season on – by moving towards discontinuing the use of female models as display props at motor shows, Bloomberg reports.
According to the business news agency, a number of car companies will not be utilising “booth babes” – usually dressed in titillating fashion – as part of their display operations at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, which takes place next week.
The response taken by establishments and automakers look to be very much dictated by the growing global #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, and looks to be marking a change in perspective in an industry that has long pandered to male customers by using attractive women to sell cars, the report adds.
Korean automaker SsangYong is one of these companies – it said that it will be switching to male and female models dressed in sportswear to promote its vehicles. Lexus, meanwhile, confirmed that it will not be using any models altogether at the Swiss show, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has reportedly canceled contracts with several female models over concerns about being criticised on #MeToo.
Not every company is ditching the gals wholesale, but they will certainly be cutting back on how things are presented – Toyota and Nissan said that that their girls won’t be dressed in flirtations fashion. “Times have changed. It makes more sense to use product specialists because we’re selling cars,” said Nissan spokeswoman Sara Jenkins.
This approach is also being taken by FCA, which stated that its Maserati, Jeep and Alfa Romeo displays will feature both men and women, the latter in less flesh-exposing garb than in previous shows.
The switch away from the norm highlights the ripple effect the #MeToo movement is having on industries well beyond its Hollywood roots. More importantly, the move away from this perceived sexism should go down well with the auto industry’s changing customer base, as more women become car buyers.
According to the report, the percentage of women owning a car in the UK jumped by 66% in the past decade as of 2016, while in Germany, Europe’s biggest car market, women constitute about a third of all new car customers. The figure is slightly higher in France, at 37%.
All this, of course, in Europe and the US. Closer to home, it will be interesting to see if changes will come about in Thailand and Indonesia – if it does, it will mean the end of Danny Tan’s seminal show-ending posts. What do you think of the move to slowly do away with the “booth babes?” Do you think that that not having ladies around will take away from the charm of a motor show?
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It would surely Make the Car Show less Entertaining.
Beauties are to “Relax” the Eyes after seeing Cars with 4 wheels here ,there and everywhere.
Male and female beauties should be hired.
You mean combination of both? We have bro/sis sajat for ya
u want to relax ur eyes just go out of city n see nature
my family take weekend mrt ride to relax
BS lah you. Auto shows should be more inclusive, families make trips to these kind of events too. About time they stop using ‘booth babes’, perhaps the models can switch to better careers.
Of course. I never heard someone buy certain car due to booth babe attractiveness. pretty salesgirl maybe.
Proton used to hire miss universe from few countries as duta. Looks how things have worked out so far for them.
Yes Miss Australia did promote Proton Preve years ago. Sales tetap teruk.
Even Miranda Kerr can’t save P1.
I suggest Proton use Ladyboys to promote their cars. This will attract more ladyboys to buy the Iriz.
Real men buy macho cars like 2018 Perodua Myvi.
Saw a 2018 Perodua Myvi totally smashed in a eksiden at Connaught hiway yesterday. Real macho men but sucky driving ethics. I prefer safer ladyboy drivers instead.
Miranda who?
Miranda Orange 1.5L
A true car fan wun attend motorshows simply becuz to ogle at babes. Hope there r more like me.
This was the biggest joke ever. This is how money was wasted. At the end of the day, sales kosong.
Even our own neighboring country, in 2016, Proton only sold a grand total of 1 car. But maintained showroom and staff amounting to millions of ringgit in cost.
Errr… What’s this is all about again???
Ya ya. As compared to ur toyota using Super GT girls yet lost 50% market share in 1 year. Lolz!
support, bad news to those showgirl however, they have less and less income.
If the models are smart, they can get jobs based on brainpower instead of body measurements.
It’s exactly the lack of brainpower… That they use body… Duh. If got better paying job who will want to go let a bunch of wolves ogle at
The girls need to make a living. Bring the jobs back!
Go work in fast food, or airlines, or banks, or any other million types of jobs. Don’t imply that is their only career choice.
Do away with the cars, bikes, guys but please retain the girls….just my opinion:)
May God Bless your kind soul man.
Hahaha, have a girl show with a few sexy cars?
BS, you are not even fit to comment here. Not a true car fan and a horribly misguided misogynistic commentor.
Not just Anna Kendrick, we all have #MeToo.
Feminist politics at play here.
Replace them with female robots or mannequins.
Fembots lobby will protest
Well, their loss.
sign….it’s a sad day guys…
My mind says yes..but my heart is saying NO!!
or is it ur underpants that says NO?
Hahahaha!
Motor shows without the babes is like eating Spaghetti without the sauce.
Just like many guys prefer taking crowded LRT
Motor shows without babes but still attracting high attendance means everyone is 100% focused on the cars, which should be number one objective for any motor show. Also, saves more cost for automakers during events.
The automotive world just came to an end.
Drama lebih this guy.
just put the girls back..nothing wrong, men just want to buy car
No need beauties. Save the money…..This can avoid jealous girl friend incident.
We guys are there for the cars. The girls are just obstructing the view of the entire car.
one minute say no job opportunities…then next minute u reduce job opportunities…apalagiwanitamau
There are women who enjoy being models at such events. Tell those unattractive undesirable feminist slobs to hug their cats and go cry in some safe space somewhere and leave testosterone-charged events alone.
Do you think in Thailand auto shows they use ‘female’ models?
put male model…i like guy
What’s the world coming to ~~~??
The majority of people attending car shows are men. The majority of men like to look at pretty ladies. It merely adds to the overall enjoyment of the day. There is nothing sleazy about it at all.
Another win for the “anti enjoyment” movement.
Bad news for fappers..
Those #MeToo just killed other people jobs and rights. What’s wrong with those ladies make a living to show off their beauty?
Can I say I want my job back, and #MeTooJobsBack.
This is what you get when you bow to feminist and sjw.
Love the babes but understand the concern for them being exploited and the potential negative effects on sexist attitudes and actions. What if they wore more modest clothes and trained for and given the role of promoters/sales rep who actually know stuff about the vehicles? It will be a win-win for all. Being beautiful and being respected for substance can exist together. Just need someone to find the middle ground on the issue here and make it work.
It all seems a bit old fashioned to me. I wonder about the economics of it. If the girls help to attract buyers, they are doing their job. The question is; do they attract buyers?
Yes. This is why companies spent so much to hire them.
Well, if the leftist, politically correct brigade, feminist has anything to say, then sadly, Yes.
Im gonna miss the girls thats for sure. Oh well.
Time for ripped, muscly manly man in tight thongs to flex next to an AMG!!!
“You may not be able to get 6 packs like me, so why not drive a V6 for the ladies?”
Wonder if we’ll have harassment issues from the ladies instead…
Oh and thanks to paultan crew for the uploads! Those heavy make-up may be puke inducing, but tits be tits!
*Frantically saves selected images in ‘veeeery private’ folder*
We should replace them with robots… Sexy Female robots!!!
Who’s the guy dude so jelly the girls making a living out of modelling at car shows making up all these #metoo ni??!!!
It’s okay, most of you only see Booth babes at Thailand motorshows, and many of those were men anyway.
No real loss here! people go to the events to look at car features, the Life and Hometown are ‘side’ priorities at best (props to those that catches the latter parts of my sentence)
This models and model company just loose more jobs. Thanks to the so call social justice warriors.
“Booth babes” are a neanderthal idea that should be consigned to the dustbin of history. No surprise that 3rd world mentalities support it though. Such people are still in the dark ages. Sad.