Post The Wrong Thing Online And This Automaker Might Come After You

The Chinese auto giant isn’t just suing 37 influencers, it’s also keeping tabs on over a hundred more

Some automakers respond to criticism with a press release or maybe a quiet product update. BYD, on the other hand, is choosing to take a more combative route through the courts. The Chinese carmaking giant is reportedly suing 37 influencers and placing another 126 social media accounts under internal investigation for defamation. The company says it won’t stop there.

It also plans to continue taking legal action against individuals or organizations it accuses of spreading false claims and is offering significant financial rewards to whistleblowers who provide credible leads.

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In a statement posted to Weibo, BYD’s legal department described the situation as a series of “repeated, organized, and malicious online attacks,” which it claims are being carried out by unnamed media outlets and PR firms. These attacks, according to BYD, have “seriously damaged the company’s reputation, disrupted the market order, and had a negative impact on the healthy development of the industry.”

Specific Allegations and Platforms Targeted

The company pointed to several examples involving influencers active on major Chinese platforms like WeChat and Weibo. Some posts allegedly made false claims about BYD’s financial status, while others criticized the brand’s vehicles as being overpriced, poorly built, or lacking in safety. In one notable case, a user accused BYD of manipulating influencers, an allegation the company denies.

So far, courts have ruled in BYD’s favor in some instances. Several individuals have been ordered to issue public apologies and pay damages. The amounts awarded were ¥60,000 (around $8,400) and ¥100,000 (about $13,900), though other cases are still moving through the legal system.

Whistleblower Program and Financial Incentives

In a move that blurs the line between corporate legal strategy and crowd-sourced investigation, BYD asked the public to report potential defamatory content through its dedicated “News Anti-Fraud Office”. Verified reports could earn rewards ranging from ¥50,000 ($7,000) to as much as ¥5,000,000 ($700,000), depending on how impactful the information is.

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According to Car News China, Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD’s Branding and PR departments, emphasized that the company welcomes “media criticism and public oversight, but we will not tolerate defamatory content or false accusations”. He also noted that all relevant posts and comments are being preserved as legal evidence.

BYD’s legal offensive reflects a growing trend among Chinese automakers to defend their brands more aggressively online. Just recently, Avatr filed a $1.4 million lawsuit against a local blogger over accusations about exaggerated drag coefficient claims. While some see this as a necessary step to counter misinformation, it also risks turning legitimate scrutiny into a legal minefield, where speaking out could come with a price tag.