Chinese car giant puts SUV wheels on back to front: BYD apologises for delivering new models with wider rear wheels fitted at the front

China's biggest carmaker has issued a public apology to customers in the country who have been delivered vehicles with the front and rear wheels fitted the wrong way round.BYD, the world's largest EV producer, has admitted that examples of its new Great Tang SUV have the front wheels fitted to the rear axle and vice versa.It means the 25mm-wider rims and tyres designed to be installed at the rear to provide better traction for the rear-wheel-drive electric SUV were instead fitted to the front, while the narrower wheels and tyres were mounted on the rear axle.The electric SUV, which costs 230,000 yuan (around £26,000), has been one of BYD's best-selling models in its domestic market since launching in June, though it is not yet available in Europe or the UK.The seven-seat battery-powered family car topped China's large electric SUV sales charts in September and October, with 14,000 deliveries recorded last month and more than 40,000 sold since arriving in showrooms four months earlier.It remains unclear how many vehicles are affected by the mix-up. BYD, the world's largest EV producer, has admitted that examples of its new Great Tang SUV have the front wheels fitted to the rear axle and vice versa in a major manufacturing mix-upOwners who had taken delivery of cars exposed the problem on social media, raising concerns about safety and excessive tyre wear caused by the wheels being fitted incorrectly.BYD has blamed the embarrassing blunder on a 'supplier coding error' and insisted in a statement issued on Wednesday that the problem poses no safety risk. It also said the manufacturing issue has been resolved for new vehicles coming off its production lines.The vehicles affected are BYD's all-electric Great Tang SUVs with rear-wheel drive.The model has proved hugely popular since going on sale in June due to its claimed 590-mile battery range and seven-seat configuration at an affordable price.At 5.3 metres, the Great Tang is longer than a Range Rover and weighs almost three tons. It is aimed squarely at larger families who need to transport up to seven people on a regular basis. Join the discussionHow much trust should drivers place in carmakers after repeated manufacturing blunders?What's your view?According to the Great Tang's specification sheet, the front wheels should be 20 inches in diameter and eight inches wide, wrapped in 255mm-wide tyres. The rear rims should measure 20 by nine inches and be fitted with 275mm-wide tyres.However, the wheels were stamped with the identification codes the wrong way round, leading to them being installed back to front.Having investigated the problem, BYD has assured owners that the mistake will not affect vehicle handling or create any driving safety risks.However, to address the issue, the company has committed to carrying out free inspections and replacing rims where necessary on affected vehicles.Owners will also be reimbursed for transportation expenses incurred during the repair period, offered courtesy cars, and have their warranties reset.BYD said it has corrected the supplier's coding error and ensured new 'visual error-prevention mechanisms' have been implemented to prevent similar incidents from happening again. BYD has blamed the embarrassing manufacturing blunder on a 'supplier coding error' and insisted in a statement issued on Wednesday that the problem poses no safety riskThe issue comes just two months after the Chinese automotive giant recalled more than 32,000 Shark 6 pick-up trucks in Australia because spare wheels mounted beneath the vehicles were at risk of falling off due to support cables snapping.Just 12 months earlier, BYD was forced to call back more than 71,000 Yuan Pro EVs in China after regulators identified a manufacturing defect involving battery sealing gaskets that posed a significant fire risk.The fault could allow water to enter the battery pack, potentially reducing power output and even triggering a blaze.BYD's grovelling apology after delivering SUVs with the wheels fitted the wrong way round comes as the Chinese giant is locked in a dispute with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) over claims that it is selling a 'copycat' of its best-selling product.The Chinese firm's new Ti7 SUV, which is due to arrive in UK showrooms in January, is accused of being a copy of the British car maker's Defender 4x4.It was revealed earlier this week that bailiffs instructed by JLR had seized digital records from two of BYD's offices in the Netherlands as the company searched for evidence suggesting the Chinese manufacturer had sought to copy the Defender's design, rather than merely produce a similar-looking vehicle.However, a Dutch judge in The Hague ruled on Wednesday that JLR could not use the documents as part of their wider case.The court found that the Tata-owned JLR did not need the files to support its copycat claims or to calculate any potential financial damages because BYD had not yet sold the Ti7 in Europe. JLR has been ordered to destroy the files within 24 hours after formal service of the ruling. Failure to issue those instructions on time carries a penalty of €50,000 (£41,800) per hour, capped at €500,000 (£418,000).JLR was also ordered by the court to pay BYD €25,376.57 (£21,200) in legal costs. Despite the ruling, JLR is expected to continue its legal action regarding suggestions that BYD has infringed its intellectual property rights.