BYD, one of China’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, announced on June 4 that its Legal Department is taking legal action against 37 social media influencers for alleged online defamation. The company has also placed an additional 126 accounts under internal monitoring for what it describes as disinformation and damaging content, per CarNewsChina.

“We welcome media criticism and public oversight, but we will not tolerate defamatory content or false accusations,” stated Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD’s Branding and PR Department, who confirmed that all relevant posts and comment threads are being preserved as legal evidence.

The automaker has established a financial incentive program offering rewards ranging from 50,000 to 5 million yuan (approximately $6,900 to $690,000) for verified leads related to suspected online disinformation targeting the company. BYD encourages the public to report relevant information to its News Anti-Fraud Office.

The company states that it has faced repeated online attacks involving false or misleading information, which has harmed its brand image and disrupted market order.

According to Inside EVs, such legal actions against influencers are more common in China than in Western markets, with companies including Tesla, Nissan-Dongfeng, Great Wall Motor, and Changan Automobile having pursued similar cases.

Recent Legal Precedents

As CarNewsChina notes, several court rulings have already been issued in BYD’s favor. 

First, a Weibo user was found guilty of defamation after accusing BYD of manipulating influencers to disparage competitors, resulting in a court-ordered public apology and payment of 100,000 yuan ($13,800). Second, multiple social media accounts faced penalties for making false claims about product safety, financial instability, and alleged vehicle explosions.

This case parallels recent legal actions in other markets. In the United States, athleisure brand ALO Yoga faces a $150 million class action lawsuit for allegedly instructing influencers to omit required disclosures about paid partnerships on Instagram.

The ALO Yoga lawsuit contends that consumers paid premium prices based on what they believed were genuine recommendations rather than paid endorsements, potentially violating Federal Trade Commission guidelines.