Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Electric vehicle maker Nio said on Sunday it is offering rewards of up to 1 million yuan ($137,000) for information related to “malicious PR and online trolls.” The company claims it has been facing several organized attacks over the last months aimed at affecting its brand image.
Nio’s legal department last month said it had identified “a new wave of organized and large-scale malicious attacks” on Chinese social media platforms aimed at the three brands of the group: Nio, Onvo and Firefly.
“Recently, we have taken legal measures to combat malicious public relations and online trolls, and have announced the progress in defending our rights, which has gained extensive support and positive response from all walks of life,” Nio stated on Sunday.
The Shanghai-based EV maker said it will “unswervingly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Nio and its users” adding that it is “now openly soliciting clues and evidence of malicious attacks by malicious PR moves and online trolls.”
Nio says that the authors aim to “obtain traffic or other unlawful interests”
To everyone providing “clues and evidence” that are later confirmed, the company promises rewards ranging from 10,000 yuan to 1 million yuan ($1,370 to $137,200), depending on their significance.
“If you find any online accounts insulting and defaming Nio Inc and its brands Nio, Onvo and Firefly for the purpose of obtaining traffic or other unlawful interests, or creating and spreading malicious negative information in an organized manner, you can provide us with clues and evidence,” Nio stated adding later that “the tip submission email address is nioreport[at]nio.com.”
“For clues or evidence that are recognized as valid after verification, we will reward the provider with RMB 10,000 to RMB 1 million [between $1,370 and $137,200] depending on its importance. Thank you for your support!” the company said in a statement.
In January, the EV maker said it would “maintain zero tolerance for black PR and internet trolls and will resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Nio and its users through legal means”.
Nio opened the “Nio Legal Department” account on the social media platform Weibo in May 2023, aiming to fight false information on social media.
Last month, the Hong Kong-based firm Haitong International published its“Five big conjectures for 2025,” where it mentioned that Chinese tech giant Xiaomi might acquire EV maker Nio later this year.
However, hours later, Nio’s Assistant Vice President for Branding and Communications, Ma Lin, denied the rumors and described the report as ‘purely fictional.
In December, Nio filed lawsuits against individuals accused of creating and spreading false rumors about the automaker. The rumors, which circulated on Chinese social media in late November, claimed that Nio and Shenzhen-based BYD had formed a joint venture named BYD-Nio Auto Group.
According to the allegations, BYD would acquire Nio for 16.5 billion yuan ($2.27 billion), holding a 51% stake, with Nio retaining 49%.
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