CCTV Exposes EV Industry Black Market: Owners Cyberbullied Over Brand Choice, Influencer Fined for Spreading Rumors Under New Alias

China Central Television’s (CCTV) flagship current affairs program "Focus Talk" recently exposed the rampant online black-market activities plaguing the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. The report highlighted that malicious defamation has now extended to ordinary car owners, with some individuals facing online and even offline attacks and smear campaigns simply due to their choice of vehicle brand. Automotive influencer Wang Wukong, who had 300,000 followers and operated under the online handle “Wang Wukong Talks Cars,” was ordered by a court to issue a public apology and pay RMB 313,800 in compensation for spreading false information defaming BYD. After his original account was banned, he reportedly reappeared under the new name “Wang Wusong” to continue his activities. The black-market tactics include coordinated rumor-spreading by influential social media figures, AI-generated mass-produced defamatory content, and the use of simulated devices to manipulate fake accounts for amplifying false narratives. Some so-called “reviews” are, in fact, deliberately misleading tools. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has received 28,000 complaints from automakers, removed 111,300 pieces of defamatory content, and shut down or suspended 3,612 accounts. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has clearly stated its intention to rectify irrational competition within the industry and crack down on malicious smear campaigns.