A BYD electric SUV has gone viral after footage showed its rear motor dangling underneath the vehicle while it continued driving through a flooded road in China.
The unusual incident sparked widespread discussion online, with many questioning whether the electric motor had detached because of floodwater. However, BYD has since clarified that water was not the cause of the failure.
According to the Chinese automaker, the vehicle had suffered a severe impact to its underside before the motor came loose.
Viral Footage Shows SUV Driving With Rear Motor Hanging Down
The incident involved a BYD Tang electric SUV travelling through a rain-soaked road in Shenyang following heavy rainfall.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed the rear electric motor hanging beneath the SUV, apparently held in place by a single orange high-voltage cable.
The unusual sight quickly attracted attention online, with some speculating that the floodwater had caused the motor to detach from the vehicle.
BYD Says Severe Underbody Impact Caused Damage
Responding to the incident, BYD said its investigation found that the SUV had suffered a “severe underbody collision” while travelling through floodwater.
The company said the impact, rather than exposure to water, caused the rear motor assembly to separate from its mounting points.
Photos shared online appear to show part of the motor housing broken away from the underside of the SUV, leaving the motor suspended beneath the vehicle.
BYD added that it had contacted the owner following the incident and carried out an inspection of the damaged vehicle.
SUV Continued Driving Using Front Electric Motor
Despite the rear motor becoming detached, the SUV was reportedly still able to move under its own power.
The vehicle is believed to be a dual-motor version of the BYD Tang, allowing the front electric motor to continue driving the SUV after the rear motor failed.
The extent of the damage and repair costs have not been disclosed, although replacing a high-voltage electric motor is expected to be a costly repair.
The incident has reignited online discussions about electric vehicle durability, although BYD maintains that the damage resulted from a significant impact underneath the vehicle rather than any fault caused by driving through shallow floodwater.