After a complaint from rival automaker Stellantis, BYD's (SHE:002594, HKG:1211) "Purefication" ad campaign was blocked by Italy's advertising watchdog, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The Chinese electric vehicle maker's campaign offered up to 10,000 euros in trade-in bonuses specifically to owners of cars with "oil-bath" timing belts, a component previously used in some Stellantis petrol engines that have faced reliability issues and recalls, according to the report.

Italy's advertising authority cited defamation, improper comparative advertising and misleading communications for its order to stop the ads in Italy, Reuters wrote.

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