BYD Tang SUV Wheels Reversed: Carmaker Apologizes to Owners
BYD, the world's biggest maker of electric cars, has apologized after fitting front and rear wheels the wrong way round on some Great Tang SUVs built this year. The company says there is no safety risk and is offering owners replacements and restarted warranties.
Chinese electric carmaker BYD has apologized to owners after some Great Tang SUVs built this year left the factory with their wheels on the wrong way round, in what amounts to a BYD Tang reversed wheels apology to customers. The company, the world's biggest maker of electric cars, admitted an assembly mistake.
Narrower front-wheel tyres and rims were fixed to the back of affected vehicles. Wider rear-wheel tyres were put on the front.
BYD said the problem posed no safety risk and that the production mix-up behind it had been fixed. It has not said how many vehicles are affected.
Drivers exposed the error by complaining about it. Some raised concerns that it could cause higher wear and tear or potential safety problems.
Owners have been told they can seek replacements. Their warranties will be restarted.
The vehicle involved
The Great Tang is not yet available in Europe but is expected to be rolled out more widely next year. In China the seven-seater sells for 239,900 yuan (£27,000). It is seen as key to BYD's ambitions to capture more of the premium market.
The SUV has a range of 333 miles. Its features include leather interiors, seats with heating and massage functions, voice control and four air conditioning "zones".
A run of setbacks
The wheel error follows other problems for the carmaker. Last month BYD was forced to recall more than 180,000 cars to fix a defect affecting brake pedal parts. That recall covered 183,211 vehicles, including Tang cars produced from 2014 to 2022.
In Australia, BYD recalled 32,000 Shark 6 cars over spare wheels that were falling off.
Sales have held up despite the issues. UK sales have risen by 80% in the last year, and BYD now accounts for more than one in 20 cars sold in Britain.
The company is also locked in a dispute with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) over claims that its Ti7 SUV is a "copycat" of the Land Rover Defender. Bailiffs have seized documents from BYD's Dutch offices as part of the legal battle. JLR reportedly wants evidence that BYD sought to copy the Defender's design rather than simply produce a similar-looking car.
A Dutch judge was expected to rule on whether the seizure of evidence on JLR's behalf was proportionate and lawful.
