Xiaomi Claims 10,000 Fake Accounts are Disseminating False Information About Its Electric Vehicles | Carscoops

      The company asserts that a defamation campaign against them has been revealed, leading to an investigation.

      Xiaomi alleges that a criminal organization conducted a smear campaign utilizing 10,000 fake accounts.

      The group reportedly employed automated software to create false content and incite opposition.

      Following the SU7 Ultra sports sedan, the company is set to launch the new YU7 SUV this week.

      The turmoil within Xiaomi's automotive sector appears far from resolved. Just days after the company had to apologize to SU7 owners who spent $6,000 on an aero hood only to discover the vents were mostly cosmetic, and following a software update that downgraded the Ultra's 1,526hp to merely 888hp, Xiaomi now claims it has uncovered a smear campaign against the brand.

      This announcement comes shortly before Xiaomi is expected to introduce the YU7 electric SUV and the Xring 01, its first self-developed smartphone chipset. In a social media update, Xiaomi's legal team reported discovering a coordinated effort to defame the company across approximately 10,000 social media accounts. Several individuals are now under investigation by Chinese authorities.

      According to various local outlets including Car News China, this criminal gang has supposedly operated since December 2024. The company alleges the wrongdoers utilized automatic writing software to fabricate misinformation about Xiaomi and manipulated nearly 10,000 social media accounts to maliciously disseminate rumors and false claims. The group is said to have employed strategies such as inciting online opposition and creating discord among rival brands, all aimed at tarnishing Xiaomi’s reputation.

      In a statement, Xiaomi characterized the situation as a novel type of online "water army" crime, where a criminal group employs automated software to generate fake content on a large scale. “The distribution network is complex, and the scale of the operation is vast,” said the company. “This has severely harmed both the online atmosphere and our corporate reputation.”

      While no specific names were mentioned, any number of competitors could be involved. Today’s cars are increasingly defined by technology and are likely to become even more so as the chipset and automotive sectors become more interconnected. Consequently, when a disruptor emerges threatening the existing order, it seems that all bets are off given the substantial financial stakes.

      In the legendary Iliad, Helen of Troy's beauty ignited a historical conflict. Now, nearly three millennia later, Xiaomi finds itself in the peculiar circumstance of being the target of 10,000 social media accounts dedicated to undermining it in the lead-up to its first electric crossover. If anything, imitation can be seen as the highest form of flattery, and if rival firms are going to such extremes to sabotage Xiaomi, it is evident they are wary of what lies ahead.