BYD, having recently dipped its toes into the pickup truck market with the mid-size Shark 6, is now signaling its ambitious intent to conquer the full-size segment, directly challenging established giants like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Toyota Tundra. This strategic move represents a significant escalation in BYD's global expansion, demonstrating its confidence in competing within a fiercely contested automotive category. Unlike the Shark 6, which targets the smaller, more globally prevalent mid-size segment dominated by the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, this new endeavor aims to tackle the heart of the American pickup truck market, albeit with a nuanced approach given the prevailing trade barriers.
While the prohibitive tariffs imposed by the United States government will likely prevent the new full-size BYD truck from entering the lucrative American market, the company is strategically focusing on other key regions, particularly Australia. This market presents a unique opportunity, as it has a robust appetite for large pickups, but traditionally relies on right-hand drive conversions of American-made vehicles. BYD's plan to manufacture the truck in right-hand drive configuration directly from the factory could provide a substantial competitive advantage. This approach would eliminate the costly and time-consuming conversion process, which often adds tens of thousands of dollars to the final price of converted vehicles. Consequently, BYD could potentially undercut its rivals, offering a more affordable and readily available alternative to the established American brands.
David Smitherman, the CEO of EVDirect, BYD’s Australian distributor, confirmed the development of this full-size pickup in a recent interview with Drive. Smitherman, who brings a wealth of experience from the full-size pickup segment, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Absolutely, it’s in development. As a brand I think absolutely, that’s an area that we’d love to be in.” While he refrained from providing a specific launch date, he suggested that the truck's arrival might be “a similar distance” away as the 2.0-liter variant of the Shark 6, which is anticipated to debut around 2027. This timeline indicates that BYD is taking a measured approach, ensuring that the new model meets the company’s stringent quality and performance standards.
The powertrain of the upcoming BYD full-size pickup, potentially named the Shark 9, remains shrouded in some mystery. Contrary to expectations of a fully electric vehicle, BYD is likely to adopt a plug-in hybrid strategy, mirroring the approach taken with the Shark 6. This strategy allows the company to leverage its expertise in hybrid technology while offering a balance of performance and efficiency. The Shark 6 utilizes a plug-in hybrid system comprising a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, delivering a combined output of 430 horsepower and enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds.
For the larger, more robust Shark 9, BYD has the potential to significantly enhance the powertrain, drawing from its extensive portfolio of plug-in hybrid models. The company’s YangWang U8, for example, boasts an astonishing 1,180 horsepower, achieved through a combination of four electric motors and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While it is unlikely that this specific powertrain will be transplanted directly into a pickup truck, it demonstrates BYD’s capacity to engineer high-performance hybrid systems. The ultimate configuration of the Shark 9’s powertrain will likely be tailored to meet the specific demands of the full-size pickup segment, balancing power, towing capacity, and fuel efficiency. BYD is clearly demonstrating their intention to become a serious player in the global pickup truck market.