Chinese carmakers’ marketing tactics are under the spotlight after a controversy surrounding a comment by an Xpeng employee drew harsh criticism from middle-aged consumers.
The incident comes as regulators step up quality checks on the reliability of automotive companies, according to industry officials and analysts.
During a live-streamed new model launch ceremony on October 15, an Xpeng product manager used the term “Lao Deng” – a slang term referring to middle-aged people who appear to be old-fashioned but arrogant – to satirise the designs of some new cars that could not attract young buyers.