The chief executive of a used car company has defended using a reference to the deadly coronavirus in a sale advert on social media.
Showing a picture of a man wearing a mask travelling on a train, the sponsored ad was shared to social media site Reddit on Monday.
"Worried about using public transport? We've got loads of cars below $5000 or from $25 per week," the ad says.
Newshub contacted 2 Cheap Cars about the ad. Chief executive Dan Buckley said it was "just keeping a heavy issue light".
"If you have the Corona virus [sic] come and buy a car off us and we will give you $500 off," he said in an email.
However, some Reddit users weren't impressed with the marketing ploy.
"It exploits fears of consumers to coerce them into buying a car, and many people, including myself, disagree with such methods," one said.
Others saw the funny side of the "cheeky" ad.
"I have no problem with this," another Reddit user wrote. "Smart marketing team."
It's not the first time 2 Cheap Cars has been in the headlines. In July last year, it was fined more than $400,000 for its sales tactics and illegal attempts to void customer warranties.
In 2017, the dealership was flooded with negative reviews after offering supermarket vouchers to customers who left them positive reviews on Google.
Buckley, who started clothing brand Huffer, became the chief executive of 2 Cheap Cars in September.
