Chinese Car Manufacturer Suing Blogger For $1.4 Million Due To Viral Review | Carscoops

      The blogger alleged that Avatr utilized a prototype rather than a production vehicle for its live testing, a claim the automaker refutes.

      Avatr is pursuing legal action against the blogger for $1.4 million due to accusations of exaggerated drag figures.

      The blogger's evaluation yielded a drag coefficient of 0.281, which is significantly higher than Avatr's claimed figure of 0.2175.

      Avatr's wind tunnel testing demonstrated how drag performance can change with various configurations and options.

      Earlier this month, a Chinese auto blogger known as Zurich Bei Le Ye gained significant attention for asserting that the all-electric Avatr 12 is not as aerodynamic as the manufacturer claims. Avatr states that the vehicle has a drag coefficient (Cd) of 2.1, but the blogger's tests revealed a less favorable result of 0.281.

      Apparently, Avatr did not appreciate this and responded dramatically by setting up a live wind tunnel demonstration. Furthermore, the company is also suing the blogger.

      The initial assertion from Bei Le Ye quickly circulated on Twitter, even catching the attention of Elon Musk, who shared the post. Avatr invited Musk to attend the live demonstration, but he did not show up. The demonstration supposedly indicated that the sedan could achieve the claimed Cd, although only under very particular circumstances, suggesting the numbers could fluctuate.

      During the live test, Avatr recorded a Cd of 0.2175 at 120 km/h (74.5 mph) using a production model fitted with side cameras instead of traditional wing mirrors, as was the case in the blogger's testing. The adoption of low-drag wheels, which Avatr offers as an option, helped maintain favorable measurements. However, when those were changed to sport wheels, the Cd increased to 0.2326 in the same test, a small rise but still significant.

      The situation became more dramatic when the regular wing mirrors were reintroduced and the vehicle's suspension raised, resulting in a Cd of 0.2509, still close to the blogger’s figure. The ultimate test involved opening the Avatr 12’s front grille, which raised the Cd to 0.2743, not too far off from the blogger's 0.281, leaving room for further questioning.

      Following Avatr’s live test on Weibo, the blogger uploaded a video that was expected to serve as an apology, but in it, he claimed that Avatr used a prototype in their testing rather than a production car. Avatr has denied this claim and has filed a civil lawsuit against the individual, seeking 10 million yuan, approximately $1.4 million, for economic and reputational harm.

      Avatr believes this may be part of a larger “black PR” campaign against the company. For those unfamiliar with the term, it refers to corporate sabotage where companies hire individuals to disseminate negative information about competitors.

      

      In light of the increasingly competitive Chinese automotive market, Avatr argues that such tactics are becoming more prevalent. As a response, the company is offering a reward of 5 million yuan ($694,000) for anyone who can provide information regarding the alleged smear campaign.