Chinese Automaker Sues Blogger For $1.4M Over Viral Test
- Avatr is suing a blogger for $1.4 million after accusations about inflated drag claims.
- The blogger’s test showed a drag coefficient of 0.281, lower than the claimed 0.2175.
- Avatr’s wind tunnel test showed how drag varies with different options and configurations.
Earlier this month, a Chinese auto blogger named Zurich Bei Le Ye went viral after claiming that the all-electric Avatr 12 isn’t as aerodynamic as the carmaker would have you believe. According to Avatr, the car boasts a drag coefficient (Cd) of 2.1, but after running his own tests, the blogger came up with a much less flattering result: 0.281.
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Apparently, Avatr didn’t take too kindly to this and responded in the most dramatic way possible, by organizing a live wind tunnel demo for all to see. But that’s not all. Now, the company is suing the blogger.
Read: Chinese Carmaker Faces Backlash After Viral Video Claims It Lied About EV’s Drag Coefficient
The original claim from Bei Le Ye quickly made its rounds on Twitter and even caught the eye of none other than Elon Musk, who shared the post with his usual flair. Avatr invited Musk to attend the live demonstration, but unsurprisingly, he didn’t make an appearance. What Avatr’s demo allegedly proved was that the sedan can indeed hit the claimed Cd, but only under very specific conditions. In other words, the numbers can vary. Who knew?
Wind Tunnel Showdown
During the live test, Avatr recorded a Cd of 0.2175 at 120 km/h (74.5 mph), using a production model equipped with side cameras rather than the traditional wing mirrors the blogger had tested. The switch to low-drag wheels, which Avatr offers as an option, kept the numbers looking good. But when they swapped those out for sport wheels, the Cd jumped to 0.2326 in the same test. Not a huge increase, but enough to make a difference.
The real drama unfolded when they threw the regular wing mirrors and raised the suspension into the mix. That brought the Cd up to 0.2509, still not far from the blogger’s result. The ultimate test, however, involved opening the Avatr 12’s front grille, which caused the Cd to climb to 0.2743. Not quite the 0.281 the blogger recorded, but close enough to make you wonder if there’s more to the story.
Shortly after Avatr’s live test on Weibo, the blogger published what was expected to be an apology video online. However, in the clip, he claimed that Avatr was using a prototype in its tests, and not a production car. Avatr denies this accusation and has filed a civil lawsuit against the man. It is seeking 10 million yuan or about $1.4 million at current exchange rates for economic and reputational damage.
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Avatr Says It’s A Smear Campaign
According to CarNewsChina, Avatr suspects the blogger may be part of a larger “black PR” campaign against the firm. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a type of corporate sabotage where companies hire operatives to spread negative information about their competitors.
With the Chinese car market growing more competitive by the day, Avatr claims this kind of dirty tactic is becoming more common. In response, the company is offering a reward of 5 million yuan ($694,000) to anyone who can provide information about the alleged smear campaign.
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