AsianFin -- Complaints against BYD have surged on a leading Chinese auto quality platform after the company offered free smart driving features across most of its lineup. Many of the grievances come from customers who feel they overpaid for their vehicles.

Between February 11-17, over 4,700 complaints were filed against BYD on 12365auto.com, a third-party platform for auto consumer complaints. This marks a significant rise compared to around 150 complaints the previous week and roughly 500 in January.

BYD cars, including models from its popular Ocean and Dynasty series, topped the list of most-complained-about vehicles on the platform.

One complaint came from a Seal 06 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan owner who expressed frustration after inquiring with the salesperson about the release of a newer model. "Just half a month after I picked up the car, a new model hit the market with significant upgrades at the same price," the owner said, requesting free upgrades and compensation from the company.

BYD responded by passing the complaint to the relevant departments, though the company has not yet commented on the situation.

The surge in complaints highlights the impact of intense price competition in China’s automotive market, where automakers are rapidly slashing prices, offering free features, or launching new models more frequently than in other countries. This mirrors a situation from two years ago when Tesla saw a similar backlash after it slashed prices, sparking a price war and leading hundreds of Tesla owners to demand rebates in China.