Chinese EV startup Avatar faces scrutiny following claims that its flagship electric sedan, the Avatar 12, significantly underperforms on a key aerodynamic metric compared to official figures. The controversy centers on the car’s drag coefficient (Cd)—a specification crucial to electric vehicle efficiency, high-speed performance, and real-world driving range.
Blogger’s Wind Tunnel Test Sparks Industry-Wide Debate
The issue emerged after a prominent automotive blogger in China, with over 1 million followers on Weibo, conducted an independent wind tunnel test using CSAE 146-2020 standards at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center. The blogger reported a drag coefficient of 0.28 Cd—a 33% deviation from the manufacturer’s advertised figure of 0.21 Cd.
To contextualize the disparity, a Cd of 0.28 aligns more closely with two-decade-old sedans like the Volkswagen Passat B5, rather than with a modern EV. The test, conducted at 120 km/h (74.6 mph), quickly drew attention across China’s automotive community and triggered a larger debate about EV marketing transparency.
Manufacturer Pushes Back, Offers Legal Threat and Reward
Avatar responded swiftly and aggressively. The company dismissed the blogger’s test as flawed and possibly defamatory. Its legal team has publicly offered a 5 million CNY (~700,000 USD) reward for verifiable information related to the alleged “false reporting,” and pledged to conduct a retest at an authorized third-party facility.
However, despite being requested to do so, Avatar’s decision not to release its official wind tunnel data has only fueled further speculation. Removing earlier promotional materials referencing the 0.21 Cd figure has further damaged public confidence.
Why Drag Coefficient Matters in Real-World EV Use
In the context of EVs, a 0.01 Cd difference can affect range by up to 10 km (6.2 miles) at highway speeds. That means the reported 0.07 discrepancy could potentially reduce the Avatar 12’s highway range by as much as 70 km (43 miles)—a significant drop that would alter buyer expectations and affect the model’s competitive positioning.
This raises broader concerns for EV consumers who rely on spec sheets as a primary decision-making tool. With less historical user experience in EV dynamics, buyers often use official metrics like Cd, range, and energy efficiency as stand-ins for test drives.
Broader Implications for the EV Industry
The incident is a potential inflection point in the evolving EV sector, particularly in China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market. As consumer expectations shift from brand trust to data transparency, manufacturers may face increasing pressure to submit claims to independent verification.
The situation with the Avatar 12 also underscores a wider need for regulation and third-party auditing of key vehicle performance metrics. Industry analysts note that the credibility of not just one brand, but the entire EV market, is at stake if advertised figures cannot be substantiated.
While the outcome of the Avatar 12 investigation remains to be seen, the message to automakers is already clear: marketing alone is no longer enough. As EV buyers become more informed, verifiable data—not promotional claims—will determine trust and market share.
