If you’ve been scrolling through automotive news or social media recently, you might have caught a wild video out of Shenyang, China: a sleek SUV driving through flooded streets, dragging its entire rear electric motor assembly behind it. The vehicle in question is the BYD Tang, a popular three-row SUV from China’s leading electric vehicle titan.
For American readers, a BYD might not be parked in your local driveway just yet, but they are a global EV powerhouse directly rivaling Tesla. So, when footage of one of their flagship vehicles seemingly dropping a motor went viral, it sparked immediate debate about EV build quality and real-world durability. Here are the fact-checked details of what actually happened.
The Viral Incident
The footage shows a black BYD Tang, an incredibly popular vehicle in China, wading through heavily flooded streets in Shenyang. Beneath its rear bumper, a large metallic assembly—the rear electric drive motor—can be seen fully detached from its mounting points. Astonishingly, the SUV continued to move with its lights on, the motor tethered only by an orange high-voltage wiring harness and dragging against the pavement. Skeptics pointed to the video as proof of shoddy manufacturing.
BYD’s Statement
BYD
In its first official response, Chinese giant BYD strongly rejected claims of a manufacturing defect. According to the automaker, the motor detachment was caused by a severe underbody collision while the vehicle was navigating the water. Operating data and physical damage to the vehicle’s mounting points indicate the SUV struck a hard, submerged object—such as a rock or a curb—with enough brute force to tear the rear electric motor assembly completely loose from the chassis.
Interestingly, this incident aligns perfectly with a public warning issued by BYD Executive Vice President He Zhiqi on July 8, just days before the video surfaced. He clarified that while BYD’s “Blade Battery” packs are certified with IP67 and IP68 waterproof ratings for emergencies, these ratings do not mean drivers should blindly navigate deep floodwaters. Unseen submerged obstacles can obliterate a vehicle’s undercarriage, shearing off protective plates, support brackets, and as seen in Shenyang, entire drivetrains.
Jacob Oliva/Autoblog
Takeaway For EV Owners
Whether you drive a BYD, a Tesla, or a Ford Mustang Mach-E, the lesson here is universal: water and cars don’t mix. Even if your electric vehicle’s battery is sealed tight against water intrusion, the physical dangers lurking beneath murky floodwaters can cause catastrophic mechanical damage.
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