Hundreds of Australian customers have received the wrong cars after a major delivery error by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD.

More than 1,200 buyers were reportedly affected after receiving vehicles that did not match their orders.

Some customers say they were promised newer models but received older versions instead.

BYD has apologised and says the issue was caused by an administrative mistake, not a deliberate action.

The company is now offering solutions, including compensation for affected customers.

The incident has raised concerns among buyers about vehicle value, insurance and resale prices.