BYD hits back: 37 influencers sued over online defamation

On June 4, BYD’s Legal Department released an update on several ongoing cases related to coordinated online smear campaigns. The company confirmed it is pursuing legal action against 37 social media accounts, with another 126 accounts under internal monitoring. BYD also reiterated its reward program offering between 50,000 to 5 million yuan (approx. 6,900 – 690,000 USD) for verified information about black PR activities.

Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD’s Branding and PR Department, shared the update, noting that all defamatory content and related comments are being preserved as evidence. He emphasised that while BYD accepts legitimate media oversight, it will not tolerate false information or malicious attacks and will continue legal proceedings.

BYD stated that in recent years, it has faced organised smear campaigns involving false accusations and defamation, affecting its reputation and market order.

The company outlined several court rulings:

• Weibo user “Zhou Haoran Sean” was found guilty of defamation for accusing BYD of manipulating influencers to harm competitors. The court ordered a public apology and damages of 100,000 yuan (approx. 13,800 USD).
• WeChat video account “AutoBiBiBi” was ruled to have insulted and defamed BYD and senior executives, resulting in a public apology and 100,000 yuan compensation.
• WeChat and Douyin accounts “Taodianchi” and “Yin Ge Jiang Dianche” (now “Yin Ge Pujie Xinnengyuan”) were found to have spread false claims about BYD’s product safety and quality. The court ruled this unfair competition, ordering an apology and a 60,000 yuan (approx. 8,300 USD) fine.
• User “Samo XXX” was penalized by police for spreading false bankruptcy rumours.
• User “Grape碎XXX” was placed under administrative detention for posting false information about vehicle explosions.
• User “Hoax” is under investigation for ongoing defamatory posts targeting BYD.

BYD confirmed that legal action against other influencers involved in malicious activities is ongoing. It invited the public to report verified information to its News Anti-Fraud Office, with the reward program remaining active.

BYD stressed that online platforms are subject to legal regulation and will continue to use legal means to protect its rights against defamation and misinformation.