Chinese electric vehicle maker Avatr is under scrutiny after an independent wind tunnel test contradicted its claim about the drag coefficient (Cd) of its Avatr 12 sedan. While the automaker advertises a Cd of 0.208, a prominent Chinese auto blogger, Zurich Bei Le Ye, recorded a result of 0.281 in his own testing — a discrepancy of over 30 percent.
Ye, who owns an Avatr 12 and has over one million followers on Chinese social media platforms, conducted the test at the Tianjin China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC), a well-established facility operating since 1985.
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The test followed CSAE 146-2020 standards and was carried out by professional technicians. According to Ye, the Avatr 12 showed a Cd consistently above 0.28 across speeds ranging from 80 to 140 km/h (49–86 mph), suggesting the results were not an outlier.
In a now-removed video, Ye documented the test process and questioned the automaker’s claim. “The blogger also claimed that the testing facility did not provide a formal report after the test day, suggesting potential intervention by the brand,” CarNewsChina reported. In response, Avatr denied the accuracy of the video and labeled the situation a “black PR” campaign. The company offered a reward of 5 million yuan (approximately $695,000) for information related to the case.
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Test result pic.twitter.com/1rdQPLDok1
— Ray (@ray4tesla) May 5, 2025
Ye has since called on Avatr to publicly release its original test results and demonstrate the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance under observation. The incident has sparked wider concerns about marketing transparency in China’s EV sector, especially amid similarly bold claims from other domestic brands like Xpeng.
As one user commented on social media platform X, “Shocking but not shocking.” While Chinese automakers continue to gain global attention for innovation and rapid development, the episode underscores the importance of independent verification as the industry works to build long-term credibility.