BMW Mini apologizes for ice cream slight

Facing continued public fury, BMW Mini apologized again on Friday morning for what appeared to be different treatment between Chinese and foreign visitors during the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2023.

At 9 am on Friday, Mini China issued a second apology via Chinese social media Weibo amid mounting discontent from Chinese media and customers over alleged discrimination against Chinese visitors at its booth during the Shanghai auto show.

A video clip went viral on Chinese social media on Thursday that showed staff from the brand refusing to give free ice cream to a Chinese female visitor by saying that the promotional gift had run out, but a foreigner was offered ice cream a few moments later. The video also showed several foreigners eating ice cream near the Mini booth.