CAROL STREAM, Ill. (WBBM) – A suburban car dealership is going viral for a social media ad featuring two young boys and plenty of language that would never make it on television or radio.
The video, posted by Reliable Autohaus in Carol Stream, shows the boys asking viewers if their car is – in their words – “bleeped up,” encouraging them to trade it in for something more reliable.
The ad has racked up more than 2.5 million views on social media.
Owner Bese Oner said the response has come from around the world.
“I've had people messaging me from South Africa, from Ireland, Australia, the UK. I mean, it's crazy,” Oner said.
The boys in the video are Oner’s sons, 10-year-old Kemal and 7-year-old Kerem. She said they were eager to recreate a similar video they saw another auto shop make online.
Oner said the language used in the ad may surprise some viewers, but it’s not unusual for her kids.
“They've been around mechanics their whole life,” she said. “Both of our dads are mechanics. Their uncles are mechanics. It's in the family, so it's nothing new to them.”
The viral attention has also led to some prank calls at the shop.
“We've had a few prank calls,” Oner said. “They’ve been saying, ‘Hey, my car is ‘bleeped’ and I need your help.’ So those have been fun.”
Still, Oner said the family-run business appreciates the attention.
And the young stars of the commercial have a simple message for viewers.
“Thank you everybody!”