BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, reported its highest sales figures of the year for May, driving a total of 382,476 vehicles sold during the month.

Among these, the number of passenger vehicles sold reached 376,930.

Notably, the sales of BYD's battery electric vehicles (BEVs) amounted to 204,369 units, surpassing the 172,561 sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles for the second time since early 2024.

The surge in sales has been attributed to substantial discounts offered by BYD during the final days of May, which drew customers to dealerships.

However, this move has raised concerns in the industry.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers issued a warning regarding the emergence of fierce competition, particularly following BYD's price reductions, which may incite a new price war, further pressuring the already strained profit margins of EV manufacturers.

On its official website, the association noted that a certain automaker had reduced prices on May 23, prompting many others to follow suit.

This trend has generated a 'new wave of panic associated with price wars', although the specific company involved was not disclosed.

The association emphasized that 'chaotic price wars exacerbate fierce competition, increasing pressure on company profit margins', and added that such a scenario 'could negatively impact product quality and after-sales service guarantees, hindering healthy industry growth and posing risks to consumer rights and safety requirements'.

BYD's decision to lower vehicle prices by as much as 34% led to a decline in its stock prices as well as those of other electric vehicle manufacturers.

Concurrently, rival company Li Auto projected that its second-quarter revenues would fall short of estimates amidst weak consumer demand.

In addition to the sales dynamics, experts are increasingly attributing fluctuations in consumer behavior to external factors.

Social media platforms have been identified as a major contributor to rising food disorders among vulnerable youth demographics, complicating recovery from such issues.

In France, it is reported that approximately one million individuals are affected by various eating disorders, particularly women aged 17 to 25. Experts emphasize the damaging impact these platforms have on young people's health through promotion of unrealistic body images and dietary misinformation.

Social media campaigns celebrating extreme thinness and intense workout routines are facilitating deterioration in the health of susceptible individuals, according to specialists.

These online trends often encourage harmful behaviors, contributing to a public health concern that has drawn attention from nutritionists and mental health professionals alike.

In the realm of consumer protection, deceptive online practices continue to proliferate, with recent incidents revealing a troubling trend of 'fake banquets'.

Scammers utilize social media to advertise attractive catering services, only to vanish once payment is received.

Victims report substantial financial losses and difficulty in recovering funds from scammers who operate under false pretenses.

Economic experts highlight that cyber fraud schemes have become more effective, with success rates estimated between 50% and 70% due to consumers’ insufficient awareness and eagerness for low prices without verification.

Legal experts report an uptick in electronic fraud cases in courts, emphasizing the need for vigilant consumer practices in an increasingly digital marketplace.