XPeng said on Thursday that it has secured court victories and official penalties against individuals and companies spreading misinformation about its brand and the entry-level model Mona M03.
According to the company’s legal team, “the internet is not beyond the reach of the law” and it “will pursue all online infringements to the fullest extent!”
The announcement comes a week after VP of Marketing Thomas Yu said that the automaker had set up a special task force to to crack down on what he described as long-term, profit-driven smear campaigns.
The Guangzhou-based brand stated that “in the face of continued malicious rumors and actions that damage the company’s reputation,” it is “taking firm action” and “defending its rights through legal means.”
One of the offenders was Weibo user ‘贾佳HondaYes’, who “repeatedly posted false information” about the company on the platform, XPeng wrote, adding that “the relevant authorities have issued a ban on the account in accordance with the law.”
According to a statement by the Guangdong Provincial Cyberspace Administration, a division of China’s Ministry of State Security, the account “deliberately stirred up old rumors” and fabricated facts “about a certain car brand to attract traffic,” using “inflammatory phrases such as ‘sucking taxpayers’ blood’.”
“Relevant platforms have taken phased punitive measures, such as issuing gag orders, on the mentioned accounts in accordance with the law,” the Cyberspace Administration noted.
However, the action is not merely being taken against individuals, as XPeng got a court ruling against website Auto Consumer Network (‘汽车消费网’).
The automaker stated that the website “published unfair and disparaging remarks” about its Mona M03 model and must now “issue a public written apology” within ten days from the ruling “and pay financial compensation” for economic losses.
XPeng is not the first Chinese car brand claiming to suffer from coordinated misinformation and defamation posts online. BYD and Nio have both launched dedicated teams to counter these attacks and take formal legal action on them.
In June, Nio announced that several individuals have been detained and punished, following an investigation by the Anhui Provincial Public Security Department, for spreading false information about the company.
The announcement came a few days after the company’s founder and CEO William Li said the EV maker was spending between 30 million and 50 million yuan ($4.2 million to $7 million) per month to counter organized online disinformation.
Also in June, BYD’s General Manager of Brand and Public Relations, Li Yunfei, said PR attacks and defamation the company faced “are several times worse than what Nio has experienced.”
By then, the Chinese giant said it was suing 37 influencer accounts and had placed an additional 126 under internal surveillance, claiming it has been the target of defamation.
Earlier this week, the Nio Group denied allegations that its mass-market sub-brand Onvo engaged in orchestrated online attacks against rival carmakers, calling the claims defamatory and vowing legal action.
The company issued a public statement over the weekend on its legal-dedicated account on Weibo.
