BYD Australia has apologised and offered full refunds to more than 1,200 customers after an administrative error resulted in some buyers taking delivery of vehicles built in 2025 despite paperwork describing them as 2026 models.

According to reporting by the ABC, the issue affected 1,265 customers across Australia, with the discrepancy only coming to light after some owners had already taken delivery of their new vehicles.

The mix-up related to the model year recorded in sales documentation rather than any mechanical or specification differences. Customers received 2025-built vehicles instead of those described as 2026 models, although the cars are otherwise believed to be identical.

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Initially, some customers were offered a refund equivalent to their delivery charges, but BYD has since expanded its response.

Speaking to the ABC, BYD Australia’s director of public relations, Paul Ellis, said the company would provide affected customers with a full refund if they wished.

“There was no deceit,” Ellis told the broadcaster. “We will offer customers a full refund. They will take that refund and if they wish to have a new transaction they can purchase another BYD from us.”

One affected owner told the ABC he only became aware of the issue after being contacted by BYD several weeks after taking delivery. While satisfied with the vehicle itself, he said he was concerned about potential implications for insurance and future resale values.

Although model years can influence resale values in the used-car market, there is no indication the affected vehicles differ in equipment, safety features or performance from the versions customers believed they had purchased.

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) told the ABC that consumers are entitled to receive products that match the description provided at the point of sale under Australian Consumer Law. The regulator expects businesses to work directly with customers to resolve such issues and noted that consumers may be entitled to remedies where products do not match their description.

The incident comes as BYD continues its rapid expansion in Australia, where the Chinese brand has become one of the country’s fastest-growing automotive manufacturers, with a line-up spanning electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.