A video circulating online in China shows a BYD Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 driving with its front-left wheel raised and a wheel clamp still fitted. The SUV appears to pull out of a parallel parking space and continue along a road, with only its other front wheel on the ground. The report describes the maneuver as a possible way to evade a wheel-clamping penalty, but says it is not known whether the vehicle was later stopped or whether the scene was staged as product promotion.
The clip follows a BYD demonstration at a Chinese test facility in May, where the Bao 8 used its DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic suspension to travel on three wheels. BYD has said the system can help a vehicle overcome situations such as a wheel being stuck in sand or mud, and can also lift the vehicle in an emergency to change a flat tire.
The system can raise any one wheel with a maximum lifting force of 9 metric tons and lift it by up to 300 millimeters. It can also adjust suspension height by up to 200 mm while driving. The stated maximum speed for three-wheel driving is 15 km/h. The unusual use shown in the video prompted online concerns about road safety and misuse of the technology; the report does not confirm whether the clip depicts a genuine incident.