{"id":5377,"date":"2025-05-16T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/?p=5377"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:56:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T11:56:42","slug":"chinese-automaker-sues-blogger-for-1-4m-over-viral-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/05\/16\/chinese-automaker-sues-blogger-for-1-4m-over-viral-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Automaker Sues Blogger For $1.4M Over Viral Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tggtrgrtrtgtgrgtr455-1024x576-1.jpg\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<ul>\n<li>Avatr is suing a blogger for $1.4 million after accusations about inflated drag claims.<\/li>\n<li>The blogger\u2019s test showed a drag coefficient of 0.281, lower than the claimed 0.2175.<\/li>\n<li>Avatr\u2019s wind tunnel test showed how drag varies with different options and configurations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier this month, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/tag\/china\/\">Chinese<\/a> auto blogger named Zurich Bei Le Ye went viral after claiming that the all-electric Avatr 12 isn\u2019t as aerodynamic as the carmaker would have you believe. According to Avatr, the car boasts a drag coefficient (Cd) of 2.1, but after running his own tests, the blogger came up with a much less flattering result: 0.281. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Apparently, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/tag\/avatr\/\">Avatr<\/a> didn\u2019t take too kindly to this and responded in the most dramatic way possible, by organizing a live wind tunnel demo for all to see. But that\u2019s not all. Now, the company is suing the blogger.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/2025\/05\/chinese-carmaker-faces-backlash-after-viral-video-claims-it-lied-about-evs-drag-coefficient\/\">Chinese Carmaker Faces Backlash After Viral Video Claims It Lied About EV\u2019s Drag Coefficient<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The original claim from <em>Bei Le Ye<\/em> quickly made its rounds on Twitter and even caught the eye of none other than Elon Musk, who shared the post with his usual flair. Avatr invited Musk to attend the live demonstration, but unsurprisingly, he didn\u2019t make an appearance. What Avatr\u2019s demo allegedly proved was that the sedan can indeed hit the claimed Cd, but only under very specific conditions. In other words, the numbers can vary. Who knew?<\/p>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-organic\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is wild: Elon reposted my tweet yesterday, which caught the attention of Avatr. Today, Avatr officially invites Elon to witness the retesting of Cd. Here is the translation, including the invite: \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTesla founder Elon Musk<br \/>recently retweeted inaccurate information posted\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/43l4cL5CkG\">https:\/\/t.co\/43l4cL5CkG<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hfdJviuAuL\">pic.twitter.com\/hfdJviuAuL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ray (@ray4tesla) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ray4tesla\/status\/1919984148518953018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><strong>Wind Tunnel Showdown<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/2024\/08\/avatr-012-kim-jones-special-edition-comes-with-forged-wheels-and-dior-tote-handbag\/\">live test<\/a>, Avatr recorded a Cd of 0.2175 at 120 km\/h (74.5 mph), using a production model equipped with side cameras rather than the traditional wing mirrors the blogger had tested. The switch to low-drag wheels, which Avatr offers as an option, kept the numbers looking good. But when they swapped those out for sport wheels, the Cd jumped to 0.2326 in the same test. Not a huge increase, but enough to make a difference.<\/p>\n<p>The real drama unfolded when they threw the regular wing mirrors and raised the suspension into the mix. That brought the Cd up to 0.2509, still not far from the blogger\u2019s result. The ultimate test, however, involved opening the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/tag\/avatr-12\/\">Avatr 12\u2019s <\/a>front grille, which caused the Cd to climb to 0.2743. Not quite the 0.281 the blogger recorded, but close enough to make you wonder if there\u2019s more to the story.<\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Avatr-12-1-scaled.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image-block\"> <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<p>                    <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" src=\"\" alt=\" Chinese Automaker Sues Blogger For $1.4M Over Viral Test\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1436\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Avatr-12-1-1024x574.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>        <\/a>  <\/p>\n<p>Shortly after Avatr\u2019s live test on Weibo, the blogger published what was expected to be an apology video online. However, in the clip, he claimed that Avatr was using a prototype in its tests, and not a production car. Avatr denies this accusation and has filed a civil lawsuit against the man. It is seeking 10 million yuan or about $1.4 million at current exchange rates for economic and reputational damage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<div id=\"bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Avatr Says It\u2019s A Smear Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/carnewschina.com\/2025\/05\/09\/avatrs-drag-test-musk-invited-critic-excluded\/\">CarNewsChina<\/a>, Avatr suspects the blogger may be part of a larger \u201cblack PR\u201d campaign against the firm. If you\u2019re unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a type of corporate sabotage where companies hire operatives to spread negative information about their competitors. <\/p>\n<p>With the Chinese car market growing more competitive by the day, Avatr claims this kind of dirty tactic is becoming more common. In response, the company is offering a reward of 5 million yuan ($694,000) to anyone who can provide information about the alleged smear campaign. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<div id=\"bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<section class=\"type:slideshow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" data-src=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" src=\"\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Avatr is suing a blogger for $1.4 million after accusations about inflated drag claims. The blogger\u2019s test showed a drag [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5377"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5377"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5380,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5377\/revisions\/5380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}