Summary
- Car blogger Chen Zhengang apologized to Tesla China over a controversial braking test video
- The test involved a comparison between Tesla Model 3 and Xpeng P7 automatic emergency braking systems
- Chinese netizens criticized the test for being dishonest and manipulative
- Tesla China filed a defamation suit against the blogger
- Chen Zhengang paid Tesla China compensation and issued a public apology mentioning his unethical testing methods
Article
Tesla China recently received an apology from car blogger Chen Zhengang for a controversial braking test involving a Tesla Model 3 in 2021. In the video, Chen misrepresented the automatic emergency braking performance of the Model 3, leading to accusations of manipulation by viewers who noticed discrepancies in the test.
Despite Chinese netizens calling out the video for its dishonesty, Chen’s automatic emergency braking tests received hundreds of thousands of likes online. Tesla China eventually filed a defamation suit against the car blogger for his misleading content. In early 2022, reports emerged that Chen agreed to pay Tesla China RMB 120,000 ($16,790) in compensation and issue a public apology admitting to the fraudulent test.
In his public apology, Chen admitted to not conducting rigorous testing, omitting important information beneficial to Tesla cars, and exaggerating the poor performance of Tesla vehicles during the braking test. He acknowledged his failure to fulfill his duty of care as a professional influencer and the negative impact his actions had on Tesla’s reputation. Chen promised to be more careful in future video creation and learn from this incident.
The apology statement from Chen Zhengang was issued in response to the controversy surrounding the misleading braking test video, which was posted on various online platforms in April 2021. Tesla China accepted the apology and the compensation provided by the car blogger as a resolution to the defamation and reputation damage inflicted on the company.
The incident involving the car blogger’s misleading test results highlights the influence and responsibility of social media influencers in shaping public opinion and perception of products and brands. This case serves as a reminder for content creators to maintain transparency and integrity in their work to avoid damaging the reputation of companies like Tesla. Tesla China has expressed gratitude for the apology and hopes that this incident will lead to greater transparency and accountability in the online influencer community.
As a result of this controversy, Chen Zhengang has faced consequences for his actions, including financial compensation and a public apology. The incident has also sparked discussions about the importance of ethical and accurate content creation, particularly when it comes to reviews and comparisons of products such as Tesla vehicles. Moving forward, it is essential for influencers like Chen to prioritize honesty and integrity in their work to maintain trust with their audience and uphold the reputation of the brands they feature in their content.
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