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

After photos of units being spotted around China were unearthed for a couple of years, BYD finally decided to reveal what the world has already known. The Chinese giant recently released official photos of its upcoming pick-up truck model that is mainly for the global market.

The Hilux/Ranger/D-Max rival is still sporting a camouflage wrap around the exterior but this is the clearest confirmation of BYD’s still unnamed pick-up model.

Unlike BYD’s passenger cars, the pick-up truck has a very utilitarian and adventurous look. It has angular wheel arches, boxy edges, large side-view mirrors, and chunky door handles – all typical traits of a conventional pick-up.

Despite BYD being known for its range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), its pick-up truck will be powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. This is evident by the fuel filler cover and a charging port cover on either side of the rear fender just above the wheel arches.

There are no further details on the power output of the system but there is a possibility of it sharing the PHEV system used in the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5 (Bao 5). Fang Cheng Bao is a newly launched sub-brand of BYD that is similar to GWM’s Tank brand in that it offers an SUV line-up.

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The Bao 5 is the company’s debut model, sitting on a ladder-frame chassis, and is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with two electric motors. It has a total output of 687 PS and has a combined range of 1,200 km (CLTC).

The BYD pick-up truck is expected to make its world debut at this month’s Auto China which will be held in Beijing. Pick-up trucks are not very popular in China as they are severely restricted with limited highway speeds, mandatory annual inspections, and can only be used for up to 15 years before being scrapped.

As such, the BYD pick-up truck is intended for the global market with right-hand drive development units even spotted in China. That must be good news for Australia and Thailand, markets where pick-ups top the best-selling charts but whether buyers will accept a petrol-electric pick-up truck will be BYD's next challenge.

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