BYD Shark Teased; EV Maker Set to Enter Electric Pickup Truck Segment Soon

A brand-new pickup from popular EV manufacturer BYD is heading to international markets. The brand has officially shared a teaser of the same on its social media handles, announcing that the model will go by the name "Shark". The teaser image also shows the stacked headlamps and full-length light bar, reminiscent of the Ford F-150 Lightning. The new pickup will come with a dual-mode off-road (DMO) plug-in hybrid powertrain, which the company claims will improve its off-road capabilities. For those unaware, BYD introduced the DMO platform last year, which features an improved chassis, four-wheel drive, and off-road modes. 

Also Read: BYD Seal First Drive Review: Fun, Feature-Loaded And Affordable! Too Good to be True?

BYD Shark Pickup: Mechanical Details

Coming to the mechanical details, the Shark will provide cutting-edge hybrid technology. While the Chinese EV maker has yet to reveal full specifics regarding the pickup's powertrain, several industry reports indicate that it will share the platform with the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5, an SUV offered solely in China. The Leopard 5 uses BYD's DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) architecture for PHEVs. The SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and dual electric motors, generating 667bhp of maximum power and 760Nm of peak torque. A 2.0-litre unit can be installed on the DMO platform as well, however, it is still unknown if the Shark will have this option. 

Specifications for the battery and its range are also under wraps, although if the Leopard 5 is any guide, the pickup could have a 31.8kWh LFP Blade battery. Furthermore, the Shark may be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in 16 minutes using this power source's 100kW fast charging capability. This suggests that the BYD model might provide a combined petrol and electric range of up to 1000 kilometres.

BYD Shark Pickup: Design and Interior Layout

In terms of appearance, the Shark will come standard with a double-cab body style; its slab-sided form also has some resemblance to the Ford Ranger. The wraparound DRL layout up front also resembles the Ford. On the feature front, it gets the same 15.6-inch rotating infotainment panel as the BYD Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal EVs. This touchscreen can be adjusted to either portrait or landscape mode.

Also Read: BYD Atto 3 Gets ARAI Homologation Certificate in India

BYD Shark Pickup: Launch Timeline

Although the pickup will first be introduced in its native market as a plug-in hybrid, BYD has not yet confirmed if a battery-electric version will follow. Further information about the Shark's performance and drivetrain will be made public soon. Notably, BYD will be showcasing the Shark pickup at the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024), which kicks off on April 25.