BYD Shark name confirmed for upcoming PHEV Hilux/Ranger rival - Could debut this week

BYD confirmed that its first-ever pick-up truck will be called the BYD Shark. The carnivorous beast’s name befits the rest of BYD’s international Ocean series lineup which are named after aquatic animals like the BYD Dolphin and BYD Seal.

The Shark was revealed by BYD in camouflage earlier this month and could see a global debut at Auto China 2024 in Beijing this week. Still, photos of the undisguised pick-up truck have been spotted in Mexico and Australia with the latter hinting at a right-hand drive (RHD) market arrival.

It would make sense for the BYD Shark to be a global model rather than one that is focused on the Chinese market. Pick-up trucks are heavily regulated in the country and can only be used for up to 15 years before being scrapped.

Aside from the name drop, a teaser of the pick-up truck is revealed with only the headlamps lighting up. Needless to say, BYD’s upcoming Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger rival looks contemporary with a boxy and familiar pick-up design.

The headlights are angular and square which is reminiscent of the Ranger while a light strip above the front grille seemingly connects them.

BYD also reveals that the Shark will utilise DMO technology which stands for Dual Mode Off-road. This technology first made its debut on the Fang Cheng Bao 5 which uses a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

BYD claims that the tech combines the efficiency of a predominantly electric-driven powertrain on a professional-grade off-road platform. The Bao 5 sits on a ladder frame chassis while its PHEV combination of a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol unit and 2 electric motors produces a total output of 687 PS.

More details on the BYD Shark will be revealed later, perhaps as soon as this week with Auto China 2024 on the horizon. Since it might be introduced in RHD markets, could Malaysia be one of them?

Also read: BYD pick-up revealed - Chinese Hilux/Ranger rival to be PHEV, could debut end of this month