Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD will finally roll out its first electric pickup truck, named the Shark, in Mexico on Tuesday, marking its entry into the growing segment and firing the starting gun on a new race with established rivals from Ford to Tesla on the global stage.
The Shark is set to be a high-end offering and is the latest model in the company’s expanding Ocean family of EVs, which target younger and tech-savvy consumers compared with its Dynasty family. It also shares the company’s latest EV platform with the Bao 5, a luxury off-road sports utility vehicle under its Formula Leopard marque, or Fangchengbao in Chinese pinyin. Holding a dominant position in the home market, BYD is ramping up efforts to pursue global opportunities, and the launch of the Shark will be the latest attempt by a Chinese automaker to push upmarket and create a global brand.
With the BYD Shark framed by some as a serious threat to the Ford F-150 Lightning, below are some of the most important details about the pickup ahead of its official launch at 10:30 a.m. (UTC -6) today.
#1 The Shark will share the latest DMO (dual-mode off-road) plug-in hybrid EV platform with the dual-motor Bao 5 SUV, which uses a 1.5/2.0-liter high-performance petrol engine and delivers a combined output of more than 500 kW. BYD will also likely use high-quality materials and modern equipment in the truck to provide a high-spec cabin similar to that of its sibling, featuring the likes of advanced LED displays for infotainment and a large-sized head-up display unit to provide real-time information to drivers.
#2 It also seems inevitable that a range of BYD’s in-house technologies will be incorporated into this strategically important model, including “blade batteries,” which boast improved thermal stability and strong resistance to collisions, as well as the DiSus, an electric-powered body control suspension system. In addition to featuring an adjustable suspension system powered by artificial intelligence algorithms, the Shark will also be able to power other vehicles as well as electronic devices with its bidirectional charging capability, which could be a useful and attractive function for camping expeditions.
#3 Both PHEV and all-electric Sharks are expected to be available to global consumers, in line with BYD’s other international offerings. The PHEV will likely have a driving range of 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) on a full charge and full tank of gas and could be charged from 30% to 80% in just a few minutes, if the performance of the Bao 5 is repeated for the pickup, as seems likely. It may also provide low energy consumption similar to the Bao 5 which reports an impressive fuel consumption of 7.8L/100 km.
#4 The BYD Shark will probably focus on the overseas markets for the foreseeable future, as there have been restrictions on commercial vehicles including pickups in China. Some local governments have prohibited pickup trucks from being driven in their downtown areas, including Beijing, Hangzhou, and Chengdu. Nevertheless, the new model will be produced at BYD’s Chinese plants, at least for now. The company is looking for a location in Mexico to build a factory, BYD Americas chief executive Stella Li told Reuters early this year.
#5 BYD’s first pickup truck will compete against the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Tesla Cybertruck, as well as the Great Wall P series, at an expected price tag of around RMB 300,000 ($41,460). Rival Great Wall Motor was the top-selling brand of pickup truck in China in 2023, posting sales of 143,851 units globally and accounting for roughly half of the domestic market in the category last year. Ford reported a 6.8% growth in the US in the first quarter of 2024, thanks to strong demand for its pickup trucks.