Auto Influencer with Millions of Followers Jailed for Defaming Xiaomi EVs as Courts Crack Down on Online Misconduct in Auto Industry

Recently, a popular automotive blogger with millions of followers was sentenced by a court for the crime of damaging product reputation after deliberately fabricating false information to harm the reputation of Xiaomi’s automobiles. The case has concluded its first-instance trial. This incident has exposed the chaotic practices surrounding unregulated “wild” vehicle reviews in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. In recent years, alongside the rapid growth of China's NEV industry, some self-media accounts have published false content under the guise of “professional reviews” to attract traffic or pursue private gain. Meanwhile, shadowy networks have organized online trolls to mass-disseminate rumors and launch targeted attacks against specific automakers. Influenced by platform algorithms that favor negative content, the trend of “negativity spreads faster” has further exacerbated such misconduct. These malicious narratives not only damage corporate reputations and undermine companies’ prior investments but also interfere with consumers’ normal car-buying decisions. In more severe cases, certain market players have covertly supported smear campaigns, fueling internal friction within the industry and hindering its overall progress. In response, judicial authorities have made it clear: cyberspace is not beyond the reach of the law, and rumor-mongers will be held legally accountable. Police in multiple regions have already cracked down on several troll groups, and six government departments have jointly launched a special rectification campaign, removing numerous non-compliant accounts. It must be emphasized that cracking down on online disorder does not mean restricting legitimate oversight. Consumer feedback grounded in facts, objective and fair media evaluations, and constructive industry discussions all contribute positively to helping enterprises improve their products and services. As China’s automotive industry stands at a critical stage of development, only by cleaning up the online discourse environment and refocusing competition on product quality itself can the sector achieve healthy and orderly growth.