BYD’s new warranty rule could hinder those who drive a lot with electric and hybrid cars

BYD do Brasil has updated the warranty rules for its line of electric and hybrid vehicles, introducing mileage restrictions that differentiate private use from the professional. The new policy establishes that, for passenger cars for private use, the general coverage is six years or 200 thousand km – whichever happens first. However, for drivers who use the vehicle for commercial purposes – such as in ride-hailing services – the road ceiling drops to 100 thousand km, maintaining the six-year time limit.

The change applies to units sold from now on and occurs in a period of consolidation of the Chinese brand in the domestic market and directly affects high-volume models, such as the Dolphin and the Seal. Despite the restriction in the general warranty, the manufacturer maintained extended protection for the high-voltage battery and the electric motor: there are eight years or 200 thousand km of coverage, regardless of the purpose of use. In technical terms, BYD defines as a standard of normality the retention of at least 60% of the original battery charge capacity during this period.

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Component-specific deadlines

The new guideline details different deadlines for peripheral components and high-voltage systems. While private use enjoys longer coverage, commercial vehicles face reductions that limit the warranty of the multimedia center to only 12 months, for example. Suspension and steering components are covered for three years or 60 thousand km in private use, while natural wear items, such as brake pads and filters, have a warranty restricted to six months or 10 thousand km.

To ensure the validity of the coverage, BYD reinforces the obligation of periodic reviews in its authorized network. The automaker warns that the installation of non-approved accessories or the performance of repairs in external workshops results in the immediate cancellation of the warranty, emphasizing the need to preserve the technical integrity of the electronic systems of the vehicles.