Xiaomi Wins Defamation Lawsuit Against Media Outlet; NIO Clarifies Li Bin No Longer Affiliated

Xiaomi recently won a first-instance court ruling ordering the self-media account "AutoReport Automotive Industry" to pay RMB 5 million in compensation and issue a public apology for publishing false and disparaging content that infringed upon Xiaomi's right to reputation. The account is operated by Beijing Yiche Interactive Advertising Co., Ltd., which is wholly owned by Beijing Yiche Information Technology Co., Ltd. Rumors have circulated that Li Bin, founder of NIO, is the actual controller of the company; however, NIO explicitly stated that Li Bin completed the full transfer of his shares in 2020 and no longer holds any stake in Yiche, having no connection whatsoever with the involved account. Public records show that Yiche was privatized and delisted in 2020 and has since been integrated into Tencent's ecosystem. Xiaomi’s legal department stated it has collected evidence against hundreds of non-compliant accounts and initiated lawsuits. Industry observers believe this move will help foster a more standardized and transparent media environment in the automotive sector.