Chinese netizens have provided a humorous twist to a serious production setback for BYD Company Limited (SZ: 002594). The automaker, already grappling with severe capacity constraints and a massive backlog of orders, has seen its Shenzhen-Shanwei (Shenshan) factory impacted by Typhoon Hongxia, leading to a brief shutdown and delivery delays.
Where to start?
BYD's vehicle production capacity has been under immense strain, particularly for the popular Tang model. The Tang received over 150,000 pre-orders, but only around 10,000 units have been delivered so far, highlighting a significant gap. Even BYD's Dynasty Network General Manager, Lu Tian, has publicly expressed urgency, humorously noting he went to the factory to "tighten screws" but found the highly automated lines left him with little to do.
The typhoon forced the Shenshan factory to halt production for a day and a half due to 16-level gale-force winds. This directly impacted delivery schedules, with some customers being told their pickup plans will be postponed. Lu Tian personally apologized, stating that logistics were temporarily suspended for safety reasons. He assured customers that as soon as the typhoon's impact subsides, vehicles will be shipped out nationwide as a priority.
Why this matters for delivery timelines?
The factory's shutdown, while brief, adds pressure to an already tight delivery schedule. According to employee information, the factory's current production rate is approximately one new vehicle every 4 minutes, translating to roughly 360 vehicles per day or about 10,000 units per month. Production capacity is still ramping up, with expectations to reach 400-500 Tang EVs per day by August and potentially 20,000 per month by September. However, with an estimated backlog of 50,000 to 60,000 units for the Tang EV alone, some customers may not receive their vehicles until October.
Unexpected humor from netizens
Beyond the production halt, there were unverified reports and employee claims that typhoon winds damaged several fully assembled Tang and Ti7 vehicles awaiting shipment. Images circulating online showed vehicles damaged by fallen trees, torn advertising hoardings, and shattered windshields. This prompted a wave of humorous comments from netizens eager to snap up the "damaged" vehicles at a discount.
One user jokingly offered to buy a damaged Tang for just 50,000 yuan, while others quickly bid higher, with offers of 150,000 yuan for a specific model and calls for a 50% discount. The lighthearted banter continued, with comments like, "I'll take the damaged red Tang at 50% off" and "I'll buy it at 180,000 yuan to support BYD." The article itself humorously suggests BYD could consider selling these damaged vehicles to these eager netizens, perhaps at a 10% discount rather than 50%.
Lu Tian's reassurances and Tang's popularity
General Manager Lu Tian has been transparent about the challenges, frequently apologizing and updating the public on the Tang EV's progress. He noted that despite new competitors, the Tang EV retains strong advantages and is worth the wait. He also shared data on customer preferences, revealing that the "Qianshan Cui" (Thousand Mountain Green) color is the most popular, chosen by 30% of buyers. Among the models, the 950km range version and the "Shengshi" (Prosperous Era) version are the best-sellers, together accounting for over 80% of orders. Lu Tian emphasized that every Tang undergoes over 540 quality checks before delivery, assuring customers that quality will not be compromised for speed.
The article concludes that Lu Tian's visible anxiety and efforts mirror the company's 2022-2023 situation, suggesting that despite the setbacks, BYD's sales are poised for another surge.
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