Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

Looking For A Deal On A New Car? Check Out These Slow-Selling Models

Yes, the chip crisis has negatively impacted new car stocks, and the used car market has gone a little crazy as a result. But, according to iSeeCars’ latest study, there are still deals to be had, if you’re perhaps willing to settle for a less-popular model. Cars like the Kia Rio, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport are examples of cars that take a bit longer to find homes and may be had at better rates. 

BYD Destroyer 05 Is A Plug-In Hybrid Sedan From China With A Badass Name

Sounding more like something out of Star Wars, the BYD Destroyer 05 is part of the “Warship” series of the brand’s plug-in hybrids. Size-wise, it sits between the Camry and Corolla and can travel up to 75 miles (120 km) on EV power. So far, it’s only available for the Chinese market and costs between $19,000–$24,000.

Starting In March, French Car Ads Will Have To Tell You To Consider Cycling, Walking And More

Ad laws can be strange and confusing. We can all get on board with bans on tobacco ads in F1 and maybe even the depiction of speed on TV spots. But in what could be a first, French officials have passed a law requiring automobile ads to be followed by a message encouraging consumers to consider walking, cycling, carpooling, or using public transit instead. Broadcasters and publishers who fail to post these messages are subject to penalties worth up to 50,000 euros ($56,622 at current exchange rates).

Financial Experts Warn That Used Car Price Bubble Could Pop With Big Consequences In 2022

KPMG, a multinational professional services provider, has released a report claiming that used car prices in November 2021 were 44 percent higher than they were the previous year. But they expect a correction once new car supply chains can be sorted out. If it were to happen suddenly, prices could drop by 20–30 percent, although many variables are at play.

Stellantis’ Citroen Panned For Creepy Egyptian Ad Accused Of Promoting Sexual Harassment

https://twitter.com/amrdiab/status/1466740118090301441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1466740118090301441%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carscoops.com%2F2021%2F12%2Fcitroen-removes-egyptian-ad-after-complaints-it-promoted-sexual-harassment%2F

Citroen has been accused of depicting sexual harassment in an Egyptian advertisement for the C4. the ad shows Egyptian pop star Amr Diab using the car’s mirror-mounted camera to take a picture of a woman without her permission (someone who he nearly mows down no less). In an unexplained way, the pedestrian then becomes romantically involved with Diab. The ad was soon withdrawn, while the company issued an apology.

Mercedes Blasted In China For Promoting “Offensive” Western Stereotypes Over Model’s Eyes In Ad

Mercedes has pulled an advertisement from the Chinese social media app Weibo in more ad-related controversy. It was claimed that the advert featured a model whose makeup accentuated the slant of her eyes, perpetuating western stereotypes about Asian people. By Sunday, December 26, a hashtag on the topic had garnered more than 300 million views on Weibo. Sadly, the model featured in the ad was subjected to online abuse from critics.

Dashcam Captures Driver’s Close Call With A Falling Tree

A video uploaded to Twitter shows the close call an incident responder in Oregon had with a falling tree. The driver was traveling along I-5 when a massive tree began to fall. Thankfully the SUV managed to clear the tree, but not without some of the branches damaging the car’s windshield. Fortunately, the driver was uninjured.

What Else Is Making The News

Man Dies After Living 52 Years On The Run

It has come out that a man from Boston, who died earlier this year from cancer, was actually a wanted fugitive who had been on the run for 52 years. Thomas Randele robbed $215,000 from a bank in Cleveland before disappearing and changing his name, reports The Independent. It’s said that he managed to keep his identity, which he changed when he moved to Boston, a secret from those closest to him, including both his wife and daughter.

More Dropouts For CES

AMD and MSI are the latest to cancel in-person appearances at next month’s CES show. It comes after Amazon, Facebook, Google, Intel, and Microsoft withdrew from the event. As for automakers, General Motors, BMW, and Mercedes have also pulled the plug on CES.