Avatr’s legal department has issued a formal lawyer’s letter to the automotive blogger “Zurich Bei Le Ye” (苏黎世贝勒爷) demanding the immediate deletion of all false statements regarding the Avatr 12’s drag coefficient test results and a public apology. Failure to comply may result in legal consequences.
The legal notice requires the influencer to remove all related articles and videos published between May 2 and May 10, 2025, across all platforms—including Weibo, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), Bilibili, and Douyin (China’s version of Tiktok)—that questioned the aerodynamic performance of the Avatr 12. Additionally, the influencer must issue a sincere apology and keep the apology statement pinned at the top of their social media accounts for 30 consecutive days to mitigate the reputational damage caused to Avatr.
Dispute over Avatr 12’s drag coefficient
The controversy began on May 2 when “Zurich Bei Le Ye” released a video claiming that his real-world test of the Avatr 12 yielded a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.28, significantly higher than the official figure of 0.21—a 33% discrepancy. The video sparked widespread debate, even drawing attention from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who shared the contentious clip on X (formerly Twitter).
In response, Avatr conducted a live-streamed wind tunnel test on May 9 at the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) to validate its claims. The test, conducted under six different conditions with third-party certification and notarial supervision, demonstrated the following results:
- Low-drag configuration (160 km/h): Cd 0.2172
- Standard configuration (120 km/h): Cd 0.2175
- Sport wheel configuration (120 km/h): Cd 0.2327
- Modified setup (mirrors & air suspension adjusted): Cd 0.2509
- Active grille open: Cd 0.2741
These results confirmed that Avatr 12’s drag coefficient closely aligns with its advertised 0.21 Cd under optimal conditions.
Avatr’s legal stand against misinformation
Despite the transparent live test, the influencer continued to publish content implying that Avatr manipulated test results, even referencing the movie Kung Fu Hustle to insinuate collusion with CAERI and media outlets. Avatr argues that these claims lack a factual basis and constitute deliberate brand defamation, misleading the public and damaging its commercial reputation.
The automaker has emphasised that its test was conducted under strict professional oversight, with results verified by authoritative institutions and publicly broadcast. Avatr maintains that the influencer’s accusations exceed reasonable criticism and have caused significant harm to the brand’s image.
“Zurich Bei Le Ye” has not publicly responded to the legal notice.
Broader implications
The dispute coincides with the launch of the 2025 Avatr 12, which debuted on May 7 with six variants (including extended-range and pure electric models) priced between 269,900 and 429,900 yuan (37,300 to 59,400 USD). Avatr’s aggressive legal stance reflects its commitment to combating misinformation, having previously raised its bounty for exposing “black PR” campaigns to 5 million yuan (690,865 USD).
Source: IT-Home
