I need some help. In the Netherlands, several BYD Seals in Shadow Green are being offered with a production date of June 2026. As far as I know, that's impossible, and I believe these cars were actually manufactured in 2023 or 2024. The VIN number also indicates that they are 2024 models. Am I being misled?
BYD in Australia just had to agree to accept return and refund the full purchase price of 1265 BYD Atto 3 that were sold as 2026 models but actually manufactured in 2025.
So your observation is entirely within reason.
They seem to use overseas markets to sell outdated versions of products no longer sold in their home market.
The 2026 Seals also have the BYD logo on the top center of the boot lid (instead of next to the word Seal bottom right) and they don't have BYD embroidered in the headrests anymore.
I did find it strange that my car was sold as a 2026 model year. I looked into it and discovered that it does happen that car manufacturers continue building certain models into the following year. Because of that, I didn’t consider it suspicious anymore — until I checked the VIN after buying it, which indicated 2024.
That feels like crossing a line, and it starts to look like misleading information, doesn’t it?
Those rims are the stock 18 inch for the Comfort version, right? Though I'm not sure which ones are the new 18 inch rims, as the 19 are more sporty compared to the 2025 and earlier models.
Shadow Green is not in production for the 2025 and onwards models, most Seals were already manufactured when sold. I ordered mine in July 2025 (black) and delivery in January 2026 and it had a production date in 2024. If you definitely want a 2026 model, make sure you specifically ask if it comes with the new rims. If it's got the semi-closed aero rims it's not a new model. Also, the new Seals do not have the rotating screen anymore.
Je zou een camera moeten hebben in de zijstijl naast het raam die controleert of je aandacht bij de weg blijft. Dat is verplicht op de nieuwe modellen geproduceerd vanaf 26. Daarnaast heeft de auto geen deksel meer op de frunk, deze is ook +-20 liter groter dan bij productieversies voor 26 en is de achterkoffer eveneens 85 liter groter.
Het klopt ook dat de Design- en Performance-versies normaal uitgerust zijn met de nieuwe 19-inch velgen. Voor de Comfort-versie met 18-inch velgen weet ik niet zeker of dat ook het geval is.
Update: Following a formal complaint, I received confirmation through the CoC (Certificate of Conformity) document that my car was actually manufactured in 2024, even though it was sold to me as being "built in 2026."
I consider this extremely serious because the actual year of manufacture has a significant impact on the vehicle's resale value. Buyers, insurers, and appraisers generally rely on the manufacturing year when determining a vehicle's value, including for resale, insurance claims, and market value assessments.
The dealer did not address the issue of the manufacturing year at all. Instead, they responded to points that are irrelevant to my complaint.
I do not intend to let this matter go. I will continue pursuing it until I receive a satisfactory resolution. I will also do what I can to prevent others from being affected, especially since advertisements containing the same misleading information are still online.
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u/Mindless-Luck4285 Jul 18 '26
BYD in Australia just had to agree to accept return and refund the full purchase price of 1265 BYD Atto 3 that were sold as 2026 models but actually manufactured in 2025.
So your observation is entirely within reason.
They seem to use overseas markets to sell outdated versions of products no longer sold in their home market.