Electric vehicle manufacturer NIO is addressing alleged misinformation circulated on Chinese social media platforms, following the footsteps of fellow EV maker Tesla in taking a strong stance against inaccurate reports. NIO has opted for legal action to counter the misinformation, which has purportedly caused harm to the company.
According to local sources, NIO has filed a lawsuit against Cheshiji, a popular vlogger with 6.5 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. NIO accuses the influencer of disseminating false information that has negatively impacted the company’s reputation. NIO is seeking a public apology from the vlogger on their Douyin profile and compensation of RMB 2 million ($290,000).
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In a video from June of the previous year, Cheshiji claimed that the EV manufacturer was unfairly treating Chinese consumers due to a significant price disparity between its flagship ES8 SUV in China and Norway. The vlogger pointed out that the ES8 was priced at RMB 470,000 to RMB 630,000 ($68,000 to $91,000) in China, while it had a price range of approximately RMB 410,000 ($59,000) to RMB 460,000 ($66,500) in Norway.
NIO clarified that the vlogger’s comparison was inaccurate, particularly because Norway exempts EVs from import duties and value-added tax. Additionally, NIO highlighted that the prices mentioned for China included the cost of the ES8’s battery, whereas the prices listed for Norway did not. Despite these facts, the video garnered over 330,000 likes, which NIO argues had a significantly negative impact on its brand reputation.
NIO emphasized that the base prices of its vehicles are generally consistent worldwide. The company explained that variations in costs are influenced by factors such as shipping expenses, local taxes, and operational expenses across different regions.
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This is not the first instance in which NIO has had to defend itself against misinformation. In a similar case last month, another Douyin vlogger named Laotan Shuoche was instructed to apologize and pay damages to NIO for spreading false information. The influencer was found guilty of infringing upon NIO’s reputation rights and was obligated to post an apology on their channel while paying damages amounting to RMB 80,000 (approximately $11,500).
