BYD Responds After Viral Video Shows Car Component Detaching During Flood

BYD Indonesia has provided an explanation after a video went viral on social media showing the rear drive motor of a BYD Tang detaching while crossing a flooded area in Shenyang, China. The company asserted the incident was an accident resulting from a severe impact to the vehicle’s underbody and was not caused by a product defect.

Head of PR & Government Relations at BYD Indonesia, Luther Panjaitan, stated that an investigation had revealed the cause of the incident. He explained that the vehicle experienced a heavy impact on its underbody when the cover of a drainage hole in the middle of the road was lifted by the floodwater and struck the components beneath the car. The physical properties of the cover and the force of the collision were suspected to have caused the component to detach.

BYD also disclosed that the location was immediately dealt with after the incident to prevent similar occurrences for other road users. The company confirmed the event was purely an accident, was not related to product quality, and resulted in no fatalities.