BYD Apologizes After Front and Rear Wheels Were Swapped on Some SUVs

Too Fast

China leads the way in terms of the pace of development and the release of new models. Its homegrown automotive industry relies on rapid R&D and even faster production to keep up with its plan to disrupt and dominate the global automotive market. The pace has increased to the point where local regulators have raised red flags regarding vehicle quality and safety.

You’d think that those concerns would be isolated to the smaller brands, but even the big boys aren’t exempt. BYD recently had an issue where a small mistake led to a big production error, and now the automaker has been forced to apologize.

Wrongly Installed Wheels

Bloomberg reports that BYD issued an apology regarding a production mistake on some of its Great Tang SUVs where the front and rear wheels were installed in reverse. An internal investigation found that the issue stemmed from a coding problem at a Hubei-based supplier, BYD said in a statement posted on its official Weibo account. BYD said it has addressed the software problem, while the supplier is adding additional visual inspections on the production line to ensure the tires are properly fitted.

Improperly fitted wheels are usually a serious problem that could compromise a vehicle’s overall handling and safety. BYD dispels that notion, saying that after further investigation, they found that the affected Great Tang SUVs didn’t present any handling or safety issues. Those who own affected cars are entitled to a replacement and remedy program that began on November 11, although BYD didn’t disclose the exact number of affected cars in the statement.

Eagle-Eyed Owners

The issue was discovered by owners when they noticed that wider rear rims were installed on the front and narrower rims on the rear. The owners were understandably concerned for several reasons, including uneven and excessive tire tread wear and potential safety risks while driving.

What’s concerning about this issue, apart from the safety risk, is that it featured on a car as prominent as the Great Tang, which is BYD’s flagship for the Dynasty series models. Furthermore, the Great Tang isn’t bound to be just a domestic market model, with plans to export it to Europe and Asia by the end of this year.