MG General Manager Breaks Down in Live Stream, Then Reverses Stance on Plagiarism Allegations

[Public Relations Crisis] During a live stream promoting the new MG07, MG General Manager Chen Cui was overwhelmed by viewer comments accusing the car of copying Porsche and Xiaomi SU7, leading to an emotional breakdown and an early end to the broadcast.

Key Development: Shifting from 'We Didn’t Copy' to 'We Copied Ourselves' to Reverse Public Opinion

Facing ridicule such as 'Porschize' during the live stream, Chen initially insisted, 'Not a single detail is plagiarized,' which only intensified the backlash. Several days later, at a static vehicle preview event, he changed his stance: 'Yes, the MG07 is a copy—but it copies MG’s own century-long heritage,' citing the 1962 MGB GT’s fastback design as evidence of this legacy.

Industry Impact: Authentic Storytelling Turns Around Negative Sentiment

This response was hailed as 'textbook crisis PR,' shifting public comments toward sentiments like 'That makes sense' and 'They didn’t just block critics or double down stubbornly.' The incident highlights how, in design controversies, leveraging brand heritage narratives proves more persuasive than outright denial.