Gasgoo Munich- On May 28, Qijing—the premium smart vehicle brand jointly developed by GAC Group and Huawei's Qiankun division—released an official statement addressing the controversy surrounding a guest at its recent GT7 interior event. The brand clarified that the individual was merely a "tasting officer," not a spokesperson, and said it had halted the dissemination of related content.
Image source: Qijing Auto
That same day, Su Mang, the former president of Fashion Group and the other party involved, announced through her law firm that she is initiating legal proceedings to protect her reputation.
This 11-day partnership—from announcement to removal—stands as another classic case in the auto industry of a brand swiftly cutting ties over a controversial partner selection.
11-Day Timeline: From Announcement to Takedown
On May 14, GAC Qijing officially announced it had invited Su Mang to serve as the "Chief Aesthetics Tasting Officer" for its new GT7 model, simultaneously releasing videos and posters featuring her. Public records show Su Mang is a prominent figure in China's fashion industry, having formerly served as editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar and president of Fashion Group.
Yet, following the announcement, comment sections were quickly flooded with negative sentiment. Netizens linked Su Mang's past controversial remarks to the brand, resurfacing old quotes such as claiming "650 yuan a day for food isn't enough" or saying she "doesn't allow people around her to wear long johns because foreigners will look down on them."
A more direct trigger was a video posted on social media in August 2025, in which Su Mang cooked for 15 relatives of her French husband. This created a stark contrast with the "independent woman" image she had cultivated domestically, where she often described housework as "a prison."
This "double standard" controversy, layered onto a partnership with Qijing—a brand touting "domestic high-end manufacturing" and "Chinese smart engineering"—sparked a boycott. The comment sections filled with sharp mockery, and many potential consumers explicitly stated they would not purchase the vehicle.
Facing the intensifying backlash, Qijing began scrubbing related posters and videos from its channels starting May 25. By May 27, independent media outlets noticed that Qijing had wiped all related materials from the internet, effectively ending the collaboration.
Image source: Screenshot from Su Mang's social media
Notably, as of May 28, the relevant video remained visible on Su Mang's personal social media platforms.
That same day, she instructed the Beijing Xingquan Law Firm to initiate legal proceedings, filing lawsuits for reputation rights against multiple online accounts. She accused them of fabricating false information and engaging in insults and defamation.
Image source: Screenshot from Su Mang's social media
"For a long time, I have endured immense pressure from public opinion," Su Mang stated. "My personal words have been maliciously twisted, and unverified rumors have been fabricated out of thin air. I have always chosen tolerance, believing that the truth will speak for itself. Yet my patience has not brought peace; instead, the insults, defamation, and cyberbullying directed at me have only escalated."
Brand Draws the Line: Not a Spokesperson, Promotion Halted
On May 28, Qijing Auto released an official statement, its first formal response to the incident. The statement explicitly declared: "The guest participated in this event in the capacity of a tasting officer, not as a brand spokesperson for the Qijing GT7."
The brand explained that inviting guests from various fields was intended to spark diverse interpretations of the vehicle. However, considering feedback from netizens and users, it has stopped promoting the related content. Moving forward, Qijing announced that future tasting events will openly recruit tasting officers from its user base, stating, "We wish to hand the microphone and the camera over to you—those who love Qijing and await its arrival."
It is worth noting that Qijing is not the only auto brand to face controversy over an ambassador or "experience officer." Previously, a high-end automaker sparked backlash after inviting Fu Shou'er to film an experience video, leading to the eventual removal of the promotional clip.
The core issue in such cases is that when a partner's public image clashes with brand values, consumers often vote with their wallets far more quickly and fiercely than brands anticipate.
Alongside its statement, Qijing revealed its latest business updates: The GT7 will open for pre-sales on May 29. The first batch of 300 stores is rolling out across 70 cities, including core hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, adopting a dual-format model of "User Centers" and "Experience Centers." As Qijing's debut model, the GT7 is positioned as a "next-generation smart shooting brake," equipped with Huawei's Qiankun full-stack smart technology. Its core selling points are "million-yuan aesthetics, million-yuan handling, and million-yuan intelligence."
