A Chinese court has ruled in favor of BYD, securing a hefty damages payout from a prominent auto blogger accused of defaming its brand image.
The blogger, known as '龙哥讲电车' or 'Brother Long Talks EVs', was ordered to issue a public apology and pay 2 million yuan ($293,510) in damages.
This is one of the largest payouts on record for similar cases in China's courts.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by BYD in October 2023, accusing the blogger and his affiliated accounts of long-term disparagement of the company's commercial reputation.
BYD alleged that the blogger fabricated information about defects in its core component systems, constituting unfair competition.
The court ruled that the blogger's dissemination of false information constituted unfair competition, with the awarded damages being the highest of its kind in such lawsuits in China.
This verdict comes as the Chinese auto industry mounts a collective pushback against so-called 'black PR' smear campaigns.
Several other automakers have also sued the blogger for similar infringements, facing cumulative damages exceeding 2.26 million yuan.
The blogger's actions have sparked concerns over the spread of misinformation in China's hyper-competitive EV market.
Regulators and companies are stepping up efforts to crack down on false advertising and malicious attacks in the auto industry.
