BYD Tang ‘gives birth’ in flood as viral rear motor detachment rumor is disputed

Multiple videos filmed during flooding in Shenyang have sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media after viewers claimed a BYD Tang SUV had lost its rear electric motor.

The videos show the SUV stopped in floodwater with its hazard lights flashing while a large metallic component is visible behind the vehicle and appears to remain connected beneath the rear of the SUV. The footage prompted widespread speculation online, with some netizens claiming the detached component was the vehicle’s rear electric drive unit.

BYD has not publicly commented on the incident or identified the detached component.

Why the claim is disputed

The videos confirm that a large component detached from the underside of the SUV. However, they do not establish what the component is or what caused it to separate from the vehicle.

Neither BYD nor local authorities have publicly identified the detached part, and no inspection results have been released. As a result, claims circulating on social media that the SUV’s rear electric motor fell from the vehicle remain unverified based on the publicly available evidence.

The videos also do not show the vehicle before the incident or explain how the damage occurred, leaving the sequence of events unclear.

BYD’s flood warning

The Shenyang incident comes less than a week after BYD publicly reminded owners not to use its water-resistance technologies as an excuse to drive through floodwater.

Five days before the videos circulated, BYD Executive Vice President He Zhiqi said the company’s Blade battery water-resistance ratings are designed to provide emergency safety protection rather than encourage drivers to enter flooded roads. He said the battery pack’s IP67 and IP68 ratings demonstrate resistance to water ingress under specified test conditions, but should not be interpreted as approval to deliberately drive through deep water.

During the same period of heavy rainfall, BYD-supported volunteer convoys using Denza and Fang Cheng Bao vehicles entered flood-affected areas in Guangxi to deliver emergency relief supplies. The company described those missions as organised disaster-relief operations rather than examples for everyday motorists.

BYD has issued similar reminders before. During Super Typhoon Ragasa in 2025, videos of a Yangwang U8 driving through deep floodwater attracted widespread attention after waves created by the vehicle reportedly damaged nearby storefronts. At the time, BYD said the U8’s Emergency Floating Mode is intended as an emergency safety feature rather than for routine flood driving.

The company continues to advise drivers to avoid flooded roads whenever possible, noting that deep water can damage body panels, underbody components and other vehicle systems even if the battery and high-voltage system remain protected.

The Shenyang videos have generated widespread speculation about what was detached from the SUV, but the available footage does not provide a definitive answer.

Based on the available videos, it is clear that a large metallic component has separated from the underside of the vehicle. However, the identity of that component has not been publicly confirmed. Until BYD or another official source releases further information, claims that the vehicle’s rear electric motor detached remain unverified.

Market context

According to China EV DataTracker, in June 2026, BYD domestic sales reached 177,442 units, up 7.6% month on month, even as year-on-year sales contracted by 44.4%. The brand maintained an 11.0% domestic market share for the month, demonstrating steady momentum despite shifting industry conditions.

Updated: 14/07/2026 12:15 pm China time