The Yangwang U8 has been lavishly heralded for its outstanding off-roading capabilities, with its wading potential almost comparable to that of a sailing vessel.
One customer thought the flooded streets during Super Typhoon Ragasa would prove an appropriate demonstration. However, he has now been accused of damaging stores and houses in the process. An adventurous idea turned bad?
Authorities in southern China are investigating a BYD Yangwang U8 driver after videos surfaced showing his SUV plowing through flooded streets during Super Typhoon Ragasa. The car held up fine, but its bow sent waves into storefronts and caused property damage.
Glass shattering
The incident unfolded on Wednesday in Zhuhai’s Doumen District. Heavy rains from the storm inundated parts of the city. The driver repeatedly steered the U8 through standing water, presumably to test his SUV’s capabilities, and created large surges that struck nearby shops.
Footage quickly spread across Chinese social platforms, according to D-News, showing glass shattering and metal shutters bending under the force of the waves.
One shopkeeper told local media outlet D-News that the impact shortened electrical systems and damaged inventory. “After the vehicle passed, the entire circuit collapsed,” the merchant said, noting that surveillance cameras had gone offline. Residents who filmed the event later confronted the driver, accusing him of making multiple passes through the same stretch of road.
Zhuhai police confirm they have summoned the driver for questioning. Storekeepers have been advised to document their losses and submit video evidence with their claims. Authorities have not disclosed whether charges will be filed, stating that the matter remains under investigation.
Chinese G-Class
The Yangwang U8 launched in 2023. Like other models from Yangwang (such as the sports car U9), it serves as a showcase for cutting-edge technology, retailing for just over 1 million yuan (approximately €130,000). It represents the company’s take on the Mercedes G580 by EQ Technology.
Like its German counterpart, the Chinese off-roader is fitted with an Intelligent Individual Wheel Drive system powered by four independent motors, providing precise traction control and a 180-degree ‘tank turn’.
But its emergency floating mode, designed for flood conditions, is unique. So, wading is second nature to the U8. Its depth reaches 1,400 mm, far beyond the capabilities of conventional passenger cars. It’s also half a meter better than the G-Class (850 mm).
On its side, BYD has promoted those features as safety measures and stresses that they are not intended for recreational use. Maybe the U8 is too capable. Putting spectacle above safety might not be the correct response when a tropical storm hits your town.
