BYD has announced a recall of 88,981 Qin PLUS DM-i plug-in hybrid vehicles in China because of a potential safety issue linked to their power batteries.

The recall covers Qin PLUS DM-i models manufactured between January 2021 and September 2023, according to a notice filed with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

The filing states that the problem stems from a “manufacturing consistency issue” in the power-battery packs.

This defect may lower the battery’s output and “potentially” cause the vehicle’s electric-drive mode to shut down in certain situations.

BYD plans to resolve the issue through over-the-air software updates to the affected vehicles’ diagnostic systems.

After the update, if an anomaly is detected in the battery, a warning will appear on the instrument panel instructing drivers to visit authorised service centres.

Under the recall programme, dealers will replace faulty battery packs at no cost to owners.

The action follows a defect probe opened by SAMR, which concluded that consistency problems in battery production could limit power output and, in rare cases, stop the cars from operating in pure electric mode.

The regulator’s move points to increased attention on the uniformity and quality of power-battery manufacturing among major electric vehicle producers in China.

This latest recall comes shortly after BYD initiated another large-scale action involving more than 115,000 vehicles in mid-October, including BYD Tang and BYD Yuan Pro models, over design flaws and battery-related safety concerns.

In September 2024, BYD also recalled close to 97,000 Dolphin and Yuan Plus electric cars due to a production defect in a steering control unit that created a fire hazard.

BYD reported a 12% year-on-year fall in global vehicle sales to 441,706 units in October, down from 502,657 units a year earlier, as the company continued to face sluggish demand for plug-in hybrid vehicles in its domestic market.

Global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to rise strongly during the month, by over 17% to 222,559 units, while sales of plug-in-hybrid vehicles plunged by 31% to 214,297 units. The company sold a further 4,850 commercial vehicles, up by 128% year-on-year.