- BYD acknowledged DaTang SUVs received front and rear rims swapped due to a supplier coding error, prompting free inspections and corrective adjustments to protect brand trust amid quality scrutiny.
- DaTang EV 950-km RWD LiDAR Flagship Edition uses 8J front and 9J rear rims; affected vehicles will get repositioned rims, replacement cars or transport reimbursement, and warranty restarted from Nov 11.
- The model competes in full-size SUV segment, selling 11,658 units in October and 37,563 cumulative deliveries, but execution risks include supplier coding, inspection efficacy, and potential reputational or safety perceptions.
BYD has confirmed that some DaTang SUVs were fitted with their front and rear wheel rims in the wrong positions, blaming a coding error by a wheel-rim supplier. The company announced on November 11 that it would offer affected owners free inspections, corrective adjustments and compensation.
The error occurred when the supplier responsible for packaging and distributing the rims entered incorrect product codes, causing some vehicles to receive mismatched front and rear rims.
BYD said it had launched an immediate investigation and corrected the coding system to prevent the issue from affecting subsequent production batches. The supplier has also added safeguards, including visual inspection systems on its production lines, to reduce the risk of similar assembly errors.
The issue first drew attention from DaTang owners in early November. On November 9, an owner of the DaTang EV reported on social media that the vehicle’s front and rear rims had been installed in the wrong positions. Other owners subsequently took their vehicles to dealerships for inspections, while some filed complaints through automotive consumer complaint platforms.
Owner reports and earlier media coverage indicate that the issue primarily affects the DaTang EV 950-km Rear-Wheel-Drive LiDAR Flagship Edition.
This version uses different rim and tire specifications at the front and rear. Under the correct configuration, the front axle should have 8J rims and the rear axle 9J rims. On some vehicles, however, the positions were reversed, leaving the wider 9J rims at the front and the narrower 8J rims at the rear.
Because the front and rear tires have different specifications, each rim width must match its corresponding tire. Some owners had raised concerns that the incorrect fitment could affect tire-to-rim compatibility, potentially causing abnormal tire wear or changes in vehicle handling, as well as posing safety risks at highway speeds.
BYD said dedicated testing found that the affected vehicles’ handling was not compromised and that the issue posed no driving safety risk.
For vehicles with the incorrect rim configuration, BYD will invite owners to local service centers for free inspections and have technicians reposition the rims. The company will also provide a replacement vehicle or reimburse transportation expenses.
BYD added that the affected vehicles’ comprehensive warranty coverage would restart from November 11. It said it would conduct a full review of the incident and continue working with the supplier on corrective measures.
DaTang, the first flagship SUV under BYD’s Dynasty series, went on sale on June 17 this year, with prices ranging from RMB 239.9K ($35.9K) to RMB 309.9K ($46.4K).
The model has gained traction since its launch. It delivered 11,658 units in October, ranking second among full-size SUVs in China. Its cumulative deliveries have reached 37,563 units in the five months since launch.
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