BYD has recalled examples of its Great Tang electric SUV in China after some cars left the factory with their wheels fitted the wrong way round, with rear rims mounted on the front axle and front rims on the rear. The company says the mix-up poses no safety risk and has not disclosed how many vehicles are affected.
A coding error, not a parts failure
BYD traced the fault to an error in coding and says it has corrected the problem and added extra visual inspections on the production line. Affected wheels will be replaced by the company, with warranty periods restarted from 11 November 2026.
The automaker, which carried out unspecified tests of its own, says handling and safety were unaffected. That is a narrow recall by the standards of a typical safety campaign: the fix is cosmetic and procedural rather than a remedy for a defect that could cause a crash, which explains why BYD has been comfortable saying so little about the size of the affected build.
Why the timing is awkward
The recall lands while BYD faces closer scrutiny as it expands into overseas markets and broadens its model range aggressively. Last month the Shark 6 ute was recalled in Australia over a spare wheel support that could come loose and endanger motorists, and earlier this week court-appointed bailiffs acting for Jaguar Land Rover raided BYD's Netherlands offices amid claimed similarities between the BYD Ti7 and the reborn Land Rover Defender.
None of those episodes involves the same component as the Great Tang recall, but together they put BYD's quality control under a spotlight at the very moment it is asking buyers in new markets to trust its badge. For shoppers, the practical takeaway is that the Great Tang fix is a warranty matter rather than a reason to avoid the car.
The Great Tang's global plans
The all-electric Great Tang is due for a global rollout soon. It is roughly the size of a standard-wheelbase Lincoln Navigator and has already proved popular in China, priced at around US$37,000, with more than 100,000 reservations reported before sales began and 14,000 deliveries made so far.
It sits at the top of BYD's Dynasty line, which has already sent some models overseas, including the recently revealed Atto 8, known in China as the Tang L. BYD has not announced Australian availability or pricing for the Great Tang, and the recall notice covers the Chinese market.
