Vehicle manufacturing giant BYD is testing the waters of the pick-up market with its latest offering, the Shark.
The Chinese firm has confirmed that the plug-in hybrid pick-up will be released onto the European market and that it will continue with the aquatic-themed naming that runs through BYD’s Dolphin and Seal passenger cars.
While there doesn't seem to be anything earth-shatteringly distinctive about the BYD Shark, it displays some strong design traits (with a front end that has some similarities to the Ford F-150 Lightning pick-up) from the bold grille with a giant corporate logo dominating the centre and a light signature that wraps around the edges of the pick-up. Moving along the body of the truck, it follows a fairly standard pattern, with slab sides and plastic cladding, side steps and a sports bar behind the cab.
While BYD hasn’t confirmed many details about the Shark, we do know that it’s 5,457mm long and 1,971mm wide, making it a little longer but narrower than a Ford Ranger. The wheelbase is almost identical to the Ranger, at 3,260mm, which suggests that the cabin space will be broadly similar.
We’re confident that the Shark is built around the same platform as the Chinese-market Fangchengbao Bao 5 SUV, a model also made by BYD. We also expect it to have the same plug-in hybrid powertrain, driven by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and a pair of electric motors. Energy in the Bao 5 comes from a 31.8kWh battery pack integrated into the chassis, with the truck developing a total output of 687hp and 760Nm of torque while offering an all-electric range of around 60 miles.
The cabin also looks to have borrowed much of its styling from the Bao 5, with a large infotainment system taking a dominant position in the dashboard, although spy shots of the Shark’s interior suggest that it isn’t going to rotate as it does in BYD’s road cars. The shots also show some chunky switches in the centre console to control essential features, so not everything will run through the touchscreen system.
BYD will join the growing number of manufacturers electrifying their pick-ups in the UK. Maxus was first to market with its T90EV, although that’s hampered by rear-wheel drive and a limited range from the 88kWh battery. Ford is bringing a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger to market in 2025, and KGM, Toyota, and Isuzu are all developing pure electric models.
The Australian market is first in line to see the BYD Shark, with vehicles expected to arrive there before the end of 2024. Europe is next on the list, but there are no details of timescales or pricing for a release into the UK market.
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