A number of online accounts have been penalized for maliciously smearing automakers and their products. According to reports, China's Cyberspace Administration, along with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, has intensified efforts to rectify online misconduct in the automotive sector. The crackdown targets the spread of false information and defamatory content that harms automakers and their products.

Among the penalized accounts, "Bitauto Rankings" and others were found publishing unverified or fabricated vehicle sales rankings, disrupting normal business operations. Accounts such as "Bitauto Rankings" on Weibo, "Sun Shaojun09," and public WeChat accounts like "Auto Data Rankings," "China Auto Research," and "Big Talk on Cars" frequently released unverified or outright fabricated sales data, misleading consumers and interfering with automakers' operations. These accounts have been sanctioned in accordance with regulations.

Additionally, accounts like "Big Eye Car Talk" were found disseminating derogatory content, damaging corporate reputations and product credibility. Platforms such as Douyin (TikTok's Chinese counterpart) account "Big Eye Car Talk," Jinritoutiao (Today's Headlines) account "EV Charging Up," and Kuaishou account "Brother Sen's EVs" posted defamatory remarks, maliciously attacking automakers, insulting executives, and fueling controversy. These accounts have been shut down.

Some banned users, such as "Wang Wusong," re-registered under new aliases like "Wang Wukong Car Talk" and "987 Crazy Dad" on platforms including Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Baidu, continuing to spread false claims about new energy vehicle performance and smearing automakers' reputations. These accounts have also been permanently banned.

The authorities emphasized strict enforcement against such violations to maintain a fair and transparent online environment for the automotive industry.