BYD is facing a surge in customer complaints after rolling out free smart driving features across its entire electric vehicle lineup. Thousands of recent BYD car buyers are voicing discontent regarding perceived overpayment, as their vehicles contain outdated technology.
Between February 11 and February 17, over 4,700 complaints were registered on a Chinese automotive consumer platform. This marks a considerable rise from 150 complaints logged in the previous week and about 500 recorded in January. BYD’s Ocean and Dynasty series ranked among the top 10 vehicles for complaints on website, with many customers criticizing they overpaid because new free features weren’t available when they purchased their cars.
A Seal 06 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan buyer lodged a complaint against the dealership, accusing them of providing false information about new model releases. According to the complaint, the sales representative repeatedly assured the buyer that there would be no new model releases in 2023, despite the buyer’s persistent inquiries. However, two weeks after the purchase, BYD released an updated model with improved features but kept the original price.
Though the company has not yet issued an official statement, the complaint platform shows BYD is acknowledging specific customer complaints and confirms relevant departments have received them. On February 10, Shenzhen-based BYD introduced its ‘God’s Eye’ autonomous driving system, which was to be included in at least 21 of its electric vehicle models at no extra cost.
BYD’s stock declined, closing at $2.97 on February 17, reflecting a 1.98% drop from the previous close. The recent consumer backlash over the introduction of free smart driving features likely contributed to this decline. On February 10, the stock price was $3.03, marking a 1.98% decrease over the two-week period.
The fierce competition in China’s electric vehicle market has led to this backlash, as manufacturers rapidly launch upgraded models with aggressive price reductions and numerous incentives. The swift product evolution has caused customer dissatisfaction, as vehicles become outdated too rapidly.
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