电厂 | 汽车深陷“黑公关”泥潭：谁在制造有利可图的温床

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of malicious public relations and online water army attacks on the automotive industry, particularly focusing on Li Auto's MEGA model and the broader implications for the industry as a whole [1][2][18]. Group 1: Li Auto's MEGA Launch and Negative Publicity - Li Auto's first pure electric model, MEGA, launched in March 2024, did not meet initial sales expectations of 8,000 units per month due to negative publicity and malicious interpretations circulating on social media [1][2]. - The negative sentiment was exacerbated by a coordinated attack involving altered promotional content and derogatory associations with the vehicle, leading to a loss of at least 10 confirmed orders from customers who had previously made deposits [1][2][18]. - The severity of the situation prompted Li Auto to conduct internal research to assess the impact of these negative narratives on consumer perception and order changes [1][2]. Group 2: Investigation and Industry Context - In April 2024, police in Hebei launched an investigation into the "black public relations" incident related to Li Auto MEGA, uncovering involvement from at least four other automotive companies and their agencies [2][4]. - Li Auto's CEO, Li Xiang, described the incident as one of the largest smear campaigns in automotive history, reflecting a troubling trend within the Chinese automotive industry over the past few years [2][4]. Group 3: Organized Attacks and Industry Response - A police operation in December 2025 dismantled a network responsible for spreading negative information about electric vehicles, involving multiple companies, including Xiaomi and Li Auto [4]. - Li Auto identified a pattern of coordinated attacks characterized by the use of multiple accounts to disseminate false information, particularly during new product launches, which is a common tactic in the industry [6][11]. - The company reported that negative comments about the Li i8 model reached 30% of total comments during its pre-launch period, significantly higher than the typical rate for new automotive products [6][7]. Group 4: Financial Impact and Strategic Adjustments - The negative publicity surrounding the MEGA model led to a market value loss of over 180 billion yuan within just ten days of its launch, with ongoing discussions about its design continuing to affect the brand's long-term value perception [18]. - As a result of the backlash, Li Auto had to invest approximately 2 billion yuan to redesign its product line, indicating the substantial financial implications of the negative publicity [18]. Group 5: Broader Industry Implications - The phenomenon of black public relations and online water army attacks has become a widespread issue in the automotive sector, affecting various companies, including NIO and Leado, which have also faced similar challenges [11][12]. - The rise of social media and the competitive landscape has intensified the focus on "traffic" as a critical element for automotive companies, inadvertently providing fertile ground for malicious activities [24][25][26]. - The interconnectedness of traffic, sales, and corporate image has created a challenging environment where the growth of online engagement can lead to increased vulnerability to smear campaigns, complicating the relationship between brand reputation and market performance [26].