On July 24, the legal department of XPeng Group (XPEV) announced it had secured a second-instance victory in defamation lawsuits against two parties. The cases were brought against a media company and an individual for spreading false and malicious content about the company's operations and products.

In the first case, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court ruled against Beijing Xinshang Advertising Co., Ltd. The company, which operates the "Auto Review" series of social media accounts, was ordered to issue a public apology and pay XPeng Group 500,000 yuan in economic damages. The court found that Xinshang, a professional auto sector media outlet with over 2.04 million followers, had the ability to verify information but failed to do so. The company selectively used outdated data, made negative interpretations with a preset conclusion, and used derogatory terms like "financial black hole." The articles were posted during a critical period for the launch of XPeng's new models, demonstrating clear malicious intent.

In a second case, the court upheld the original ruling against Jia Jia, who operates the "JiaJiaHondaYes" account on Sina Weibo. He was ordered to make a public apology and pay economic damages to XPeng Group.

XPeng Group emphasized its commitment to using legal means to protect its rights and combat defamation and false information.

On the same day, Li Auto (LI) also issued a statement on its legal actions against online rumors. In one case, an individual named Yan, who used the online nickname "Nuanjin Shaonian," was found to have created malicious online communities, incited hostility, and attacked Li Auto, its executives, and customers. After Li Auto reported the matter, public security authorities investigated, and Yan has since issued a public apology.

In another case, an individual named Chen was found to have fabricated and spread rumors in October 2025 that Li Auto vehicle fires were caused by "inferior batteries." The offender was dealt with by authorities and has since apologized to the company.

Li Auto also noted that its legal department had previously won a second-instance verdict on April 14, 2026, against the "Dianche Xiaofei" social media account. The court ruled that the account's long-term publication of false and misleading information constituted commercial defamation, disrupting the normal market economic order.

Li Auto stated that it respects factual discussions and criticism but will continue to use legal channels to handle the spread of false information, malicious misleading, and defamation.

These cases occur amid a broader crackdown on online disorder in the automotive industry. Six government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration of China, have jointly launched a three-month special campaign to combat online chaos. The campaign targets the fabrication of facts, malicious defamation, and the use of paid internet trolls. The authorities have stressed that the internet is not a lawless space and that freedom of speech does not protect those who spread false information.