The TV advert shows the reflection of gridlocked streets and factory chimneys in a car’s bodywork, which melts away to reveal Dutch company Van Moof’s new e-bike.

However, it was banned from TV screens in France because the country’s advertising watchdog said aspects of the film “discredit the automobile sector”.

In a statement, Van Moof accused the watchdog of “a tendency to favour corporate interests over supporting meaningful societal change”.

Stéphane Martin, head of the watchdog, defended its independence and said the advert went “too far” with images including “smoke from factory chimneys, which have nothing to do with the car industry”, The Times reports.