BYD Told to Fix 183,211 Cars Over Brake Defect While Laying Groundwork for European Manufacturing Hub

China orders BYD to recall 183,211 Qin and Tang vehicles over a brake pedal defect, as the automaker pursues wholly owned European plants.

China's market regulator has ordered BYD to recall 183,211 vehicles immediately, a directive that lands as the automaker pushes ahead with an ambitious build-out of its European industrial footprint. The order, announced Friday, covers Qin and Tang models built between 2014 and 2022. According to Reuters, the culprit is the stop buffer on the brake pedals, which can crack or detach during driving.

The defect carries a specific safety consequence: brake lights may stay illuminated continuously. BYD said authorized dealerships will replace the faulty component at no charge to customers. Even so, a state-mandated recall of this scale weighs on the quality reputation of a manufacturer already navigating fierce competition at home.

Investors responded with restraint. The stock closed Friday at EUR 9.00, down 0.8% on the day, extending its year-to-date decline to 16%.

Europe: Buy the Land, Don't Share It

Far from the recall headlines, BYD's European strategy is taking clearer shape. Alfredo Altavilla, the company's Europe adviser, has outlined a long-term vision of three assembly plants plus a battery factory on the continent — infrastructure meant to satisfy future European rules on local value-added content. A decision on the second European production site is due by the end of 2026.

What distinguishes the approach is the insistence on full ownership. Management intends to purchase the next factory site outright rather than split capacity with partners. Spain and France currently lead the race for the nod, with Italy positioned as a fallback. Reuters reported Thursday that the company is eyeing as many as four wholly owned plants in the region over the longer horizon.

Trucks Join the European Lineup

The product offensive extends beyond passenger cars. Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president, has flagged 2027 for the European debut of the brand's first heavy truck, with local production of those commercial vehicles planned to follow. A manager confirmed the timeline at the IAA show in Hanover on Monday.

These European moves underpin the group's global growth ambitions. Deutsche Bank Research, after a September 8 exchange with management, reported that BYD is targeting up to two million overseas deliveries in 2026 — nearly double the prior year's level. The following year, international volume is expected to surpass 2.5 million vehicles.