BYD is facing a surge of customer complaints after offering free smart driving features across most of its lineup. Many customers claim they overpaid for their vehicles and are now demanding compensation.
Between February 11-17, over 4,700 complaints were filed against BYD on 12365auto.com, a prominent Chinese auto quality platform. This is a sharp increase from around 150 the previous week and approximately 500 throughout January.
Models from BYD’s popular Ocean and Dynasty series dominated the platform’s top 10 list of most complained-about cars. One dissatisfied customer, who purchased a Seal 06 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan, claimed that they had asked the salesperson if a newer model would be released soon. Just two weeks after their purchase, an upgraded version was launched at the same price. The buyer is now demanding free upgrades and compensation.
BYD acknowledged receiving the complaints and stated they had forwarded them to the relevant departments, but the company has not provided an official response.
This backlash highlights the fierce competition in China’s auto market, where companies continuously lower prices, add free features, or introduce new models at breakneck speed. A similar situation occurred two years ago when Tesla slashed prices, triggering protests from owners demanding rebates and incentives.
BYD’s latest move may attract new buyers, but it has left recent customers feeling shortchanged. The company now faces the challenge of managing customer trust amid ongoing price wars.