On June 4, BYD’s Legal Department released a statement via its official WeChat account, announcing updates on several ongoing legal cases concerning online defamation. The company said it is taking legal action against 37 influencer accounts and has placed an additional 126 under internal monitoring for alleged disinformation and damaging content.

Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD’s Branding and PR Department, echoed the announcement, stating that all relevant posts and comment threads are preserved as legal evidence. “We welcome media criticism and public oversight, but we will not tolerate defamatory content or false accusations,” Li wrote. “Legal action will continue.”

BYD also reiterated its long-term financial incentive program, offering rewards ranging from 50,000 to 5 million yuan (approx. 6,900 to 690,000 USD) for verified leads related to suspected online disinformation targeting the company.

In the statement, BYD said it has faced repeated online attacks in recent years involving false or misleading information that it claims has harmed its brand image, disrupted market order, and negatively affected the wider automotive sector. While BYD has described these incidents as “organised” or “coordinated,” it has not provided public evidence supporting the coordination of such efforts.

Several legal rulings were cited as examples:

• A Weibo user identified as “Zhou Haoran Sean” was found guilty of defamation after accusing BYD of manipulating online influencers to disparage competitors. A court ordered a public apology and a payment of 100,000 yuan (approx. 13,800 USD).
• A WeChat Video account, “AutoBiBiBi,” was similarly ordered to apologize and pay 100,000 yuan in damages after posting content deemed insulting to BYD and its executives.
• The WeChat and Douyin accounts “Taodianchi” and “Yin Ge Jiang Dianche” (now renamed “Yin Ge Pujie Xinnengyuan”) were found to have made false claims about product safety and quality. A court ruled this behaviour constituted unfair competition and ordered damages of 60,000 yuan (approx. 8,300 USD).
• A user posting under the alias “Samo XXX” was penalized by police for circulating unverified claims about BYD’s financial instability and potential bankruptcy.
• Another user, “Grape碎XXX,” received administrative detention for posting false claims regarding vehicle explosions.
• A third user, “Hoax,” is currently under criminal investigation for repeatedly publishing content BYD says was defamatory.

According to the company, additional lawsuits related to similar cases are ongoing. While some court decisions have validated BYD’s legal claims, other investigations remain unresolved.

When writing, none of the influencers in the statement has publicly commented on the accusations. Details about the specific content that led to legal action remain limited.

BYD emphasised its ongoing commitment to using legal avenues to respond to defamatory content and false information. The company encouraged the public to report relevant leads to its News Anti-Fraud Office.