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Labor dispute sparks Porsche China PR crisis

A labor dispute involving Porsche sparked widespread outrage in China last week, when a truck driver, identified as Mr Liu, alleged he was assaulted by Porsche staff after requesting payment for unpaid wages. Liu had completed a delivery for Porsche’s Pudong Marketing Center and negotiated an additional fee for loading, but the staff refused to pay. Liu’s account on the freight platform Huolala was subsequently blocked, leaving him unemployed. He claimed he was physically attacked when demanding payment, and a video showed his bloodied lip. Despite Porsche’s apology, which did not address the assault, public anger intensified, especially after a police report confirmed facial injuries. Porsche’s handling of the crisis, including a delayed and evasive apology, fueled public outrage. This incident has further harmed Porsche’s image in China, where it has seen a significant decline in sales, especially in its electric vehicle segment. The scandal underscores a larger pattern of Porsche’s struggle in the Chinese market, with concerns about its pricing, technology, and management culture.

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