2024 BYD Shark: What you need to know

More powerful than a Ford Ranger Raptor? More frugal as a diesel Toyota HiLux? Is this the ute that will revolutionise the Australian new car market and end the dominance of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux?

China’s emerging automotive giant, BYD, certainly hopes so, with the all-new, plug-in hybrid Shark officially revealed and confirmed for Australian showrooms by the end of the year. We’d already seen it uncamouflaged in spy photographs, but now we have the details of this ground-breaking new ute.

Don’t follow the leader

BYD could have copied the playbook of Ford, Toyota and the other big name ute players but have instead decided to gamble on a different strategy. The Shark does feature a ladder-frame chassis but features independent rear suspension, which is a dramatic departure from the more typical leaf-spring found in the ute market.

This should, in theory, provide the Shark with better, more SUV-like handling, particularly with no weight in the tray. But, the downside of such a set-up is potentially reduced payload and towing capacity, which are both key for many buyers.

Luke Todd, BYD’s Australian distributor chief, has previously told local media that local engineers have been involved in the design and development of the new ute and therefore it should meet local demands.

“It’s designed so well to be suitable for the Australian market, that’s why we are making claims that we believe it will be best-in-class when it comes out,” Todd said in an October 2023 interview.

That’s not the only change though, with an even more dramatic change under the bonnet.

Plug-in for power

BYD likes to refer to itself as a “new energy vehicle” company and has created the term, DMO Super Hybrid Off-road Platform, to describe the plug-in hybrid powertrain for the Shark. Whatever you call it, it combines a relatively tiny 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and battery system that provides more than 320kW of power – which is more than the Ranger Raptor. It’s capable of launching from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds while also having up to 100km of electric-only driving range.

BYD has claimed the Shark will have up to 840km of total range thanks to its ‘super hybrid’ system. It can also be turned into a “mobile power station” thanks to its vehicle-to-load function that allows you to draw power from the battery to power electrical tools and equipment.

Speaking at the recent global reveal of the Shark, Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas, said: “As a global leader in new energy technology, BYD remains committed to crafting innovative solutions for users worldwide. With the introduction of our inaugural new energy pickup, BYD Shark, we’re poised to redefine the conventional fuel pickup landscape through advanced technology, providing users with a lifestyle characterised by boundless opportunities. BYD is now ushering in the era of the global new energy pickup.”

A question of value

Final specifications and pricing haven’t been revealed, but BYD Australia’s (albeit short) history in the local market has demonstrated its willingness to undercut its obvious rivals on price. So expect competitive pricing for the Shark range, in order to give the Ranger and HiLux a genuine challenge.

This won’t be the only ute BYD launches here in the near-future either, with an all-electric model expected to join the range within the next two years.