SHENZHEN-BASED electric vehicle giant BYD Co. has taken an unconventional approach to protect its brand image by extending its policy of paying tipsters who report smear campaigns against its cars on social media outlets.

With rewards ranging up to five million yuan (US$700,918), BYD aims to discourage false information and safeguard its reputation.

The company in June 2022 increased the maximum amount providers of such information could receive from 1 million yuan to 5 million yuan, saying that policy was valid for a year. The minimum amount is 50,000 yuan.

“The evidence we collect includes but is not limited to chat records, emails, contracts, fund transfers and other information,” the company said in a Weibo post Sunday.

“Such information should be legally effective and BYD will give the provider a generous reward once it verifies it to be true.”

BYD did not say why it extended the reward program, which it introduced in late 2021, saying it wanted to combat online smear campaigns and to protect the company’s brand image.

In September, the company hit back against online discussions that said BYD had leaked commercial secrets, saying those posts were pure rumors. It added that the police had apprehended the person responsible for spreading the rumor and the company planned to take legal action.

As one of the largest EV manufacturers globally, BYD has recently achieved a significant milestone by producing six million plug-in hybrids and all-electric car units. (SD-Agencies)