GREAT Wall Motor Co., the maker of Haval sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks, has offered to pay cash rewards to people exposing internet trolls related to Chinese carmakers.

Hong Kong and Shanghai-listed Great Wall announced Friday a 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) program to reward people who alert the carmaker to organized or paid internet trolling against any Chinese automaker.

If the tip-off’s accuracy is verified by the company and a law enforcement agency, a reward will be paid based on the value of the information.

The plan is in response to an unhealthy social media discourse surrounding the auto industry, according to Fu Xiaokang, a vice president at Great Wall.

Fu cited an example of paid trolls disputing claims a manufacturing defect caused an electric vehicle battery fire, instead blaming the driver for setting the vehicle alight in an attempt to mislead consumers about the safety of electric cars.

He also said Chinese media has turned a blind eye to reporting some of these incidents because of internet bullying.

“These behaviors have damaged the previously fair and honest market environment and goes against the core values of our socialist society,” Fu said at an event Friday evening where the automaker unveiled its electric vehicle strategy.

“We welcome everyone to destroy rumors and restore the truth with us.”

But internet users mocked Great Wall’s plan, saying the company should spend the money on better uses, such as improving its cars.

Others criticized the automaker for hypocrisy, considering many of the positive comments on the company’s Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, were left by the same accounts and sometimes duplicated — something commonly seen with paid-for fake social media accounts.

Great Wall unveiled its new energy vehicle strategy Friday evening, pledging to double down on plug-in hybrid electric technology and becoming the latest traditional Chinese auto company to play catch-up as the shift towards cleaner cars accelerates.

The carmaker said its new technology can bring the fuel efficiency of a two-wheel drive to its four-wheel SUVs.

It does that by placing one motor at the front of the car and one at the back, and employing intelligent torque control.

(SD-Agencies)