BYD has apologized for a wheel assembly mistake affecting some units of its newly released Great Tang electric SUV. The wider rear rims were installed on the front, while the narrower front rims were fitted to the back, creating a striking production error on vehicles already delivered to owners.
The company says the reversed rims did not create a driving safety risk, but it has still promised free replacements, transportation support, and a restarted warranty period for affected vehicles. The mistake also puts a spotlight on quality checks for a model that collected 150,000 orders in China and is scheduled to reach European and Asian markets outside China by the end of this year or in early 2027.
Owners Flagged the Reversed Wheel Layout
Several Great Tang owners complained after noticing that the wheel rims on their vehicles did not match the intended front-and-rear arrangement. The rear of the SUV should have received wider rims, while the front should have used narrower rims. Instead, the supplier installed each set in reverse.
BYD posted an apology on Weibo after receiving the complaints and launched an investigation into the assembly mistake. The company traced the problem to its Hubei-based wheel mesh assembly supplier, which handled the installation of the front and rear rims on some Tang model SUVs.
BYD did not say how many vehicles were affected. That leaves the total number of required repairs unknown, even as the company prepares a response for owners whose SUVs received the incorrect wheel layout.
The company confirmed the issue in a statement on Wednesday and said it had already fixed the assembly problem. The supplier has also added a visual inspection mechanism to its production line so future vehicles will not face the same error.
Safety Tests Found No Driving Risk
Wheel placement matters to a vehicle’s design and setup, so the assembly error raised immediate questions about handling and safety. BYD said it conducted safety tests after owners reported the problem, and those tests found that the reversed rims did not compromise vehicle handling or present driving safety risks.
Even with that finding, BYD will replace the wheel rims on affected vehicles at no cost to their owners. The company will also offer either a replacement vehicle or compensation for transportation expenses while each Great Tang SUV undergoes repairs.
BYD also said it will restart the warranty period for the vehicles involved. That remedy adds another layer of support for owners while the company and its supplier correct the assembly mistake.
The response combines a technical fix with direct assistance for customers. BYD has not disclosed how many vehicles need the repair, but its stated plan covers the replacement rims, transportation during the repair process, and the warranty period.
A High-Profile SUV With Global Ambitions
BYD unveiled the Great Tang SUV in March, and demand in its home country quickly reached 150,000 orders. The model now faces a quality-control issue before its planned expansion beyond China, with the company targeting European and Asian markets outside China by the end of this year or in early 2027.
That timing makes the wheel error more important for BYD’s next stage. The company has already fixed the issue and added a visual inspection step at the supplier’s production line, creating a clear change in the process before more vehicles move toward future markets.
The Great Tang’s early order total shows the scale of interest surrounding the SUV in China. At the same time, the missing figure for affected vehicles means owners and observers still do not know how broad the assembly mistake became.
For current owners, BYD’s message is direct: the reversed rims did not create a safety risk, affected vehicles will receive free replacements, and owners will have support during repairs. For BYD, the next test will be carrying that fix into production as the Great Tang moves toward its planned international release.
The company’s apology, supplier investigation, safety testing, and inspection update now form the public record of how it is handling the mistake. The Great Tang’s global launch remains planned for the end of this year or early 2027, but the wheel-rim error has made production quality part of the SUV’s story before it reaches those markets.
Based on
- BYD admits wheel assembly error on its flagship electric SUV — engadget.com
- BYD apologises for wheel-rim error as China cracks down on car quality issues | South China Morning Post — scmp.com
- These Experimental EV Batteries Can Eject Themselves During A Fire — engadget.com
- Why EV Fast Charging Slows Down After 80 Percent — engadget.com
- BYD unveils luxury floating electric car to challenge Rolls-Royce Phantom | The Independent — independent.co.uk
