Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has issued an apology regarding an assembly error that affected a number of units of its newly launched Great Tang electric SUV, known as the Datang in China. Engadget reported via Bloomberg that vehicle owners raised complaints after discovering that the wider wheel rims designated for the rear were mistakenly mounted on the front, while the narrower front rims were installed on the rear.
Investigation and Production Fixes
BYD released its formal apology through the social media platform Weibo, noting that it initiated a probe immediately following customer complaints. The investigation tracked the root of the error back to a wheel mesh assembly supplier operating in Hubei. The automaker confirmed that the issue has been resolved, and the supplier implemented a new visual inspection system along the production line to prevent future occurrences.
Compensation and Warranty Updates
While BYD did not disclose the precise number of vehicles impacted by the mix-up, it assured customers that the incorrect wheel placement posed no safety hazards. Nevertheless, the company committed to replacing the wheel rims at no cost to affected owners. Furthermore, BYD will provide impacted customers with a replacement vehicle or cover their transportation expenses during the repair period, alongside restarting the warranty period for their vehicles.
The company debuted the Great Tang SUV in March with a starting price of roughly $40,000, subsequently securing 150,000 domestic orders, and intends to launch the electric vehicle in select European and Asian markets outside of China by late 2025 or early 2027.
