2025 BYD Shark Announced: China’s First Plug-In Hybrid Ute to Launch in Australia

BYD has announced the launch of the Shark, its first ute and the first plug-in hybrid ute to be introduced in Australia, scheduled for release between late 2024 and early 2025.

This vehicle will compete in the market with established models such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max, and Mitsubishi Triton.

The Shark features a plug-in hybrid system that includes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine combined with dual electric motors, producing a total power output of over 321kW.

This setup allows the Shark to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.

It reports a fuel consumption of 7.5L/100km, similar to other four-cylinder turbo-diesel utes currently available in Australia.

In terms of capability, the Shark offers a braked towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes and a payload capacity of 835 kilograms, which are less than some competing models.

The vehicle features a lithium-iron phosphate battery that is integrated into the chassis to increase structural rigidity and provides a 100-kilometer range in electric-only mode and a total range of 840 kilometers in hybrid mode.

The vehicle is designed with three terrain modes—sand, mud, and snow—and features an independent coil-spring rear suspension.

Its dimensions make it one of the larger midsize utes, with a length of 5457mm, a width of 1971mm, and a height of 1925mm.

Inside, the Shark is equipped with a 12.8-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 360-degree camera system, and various modern connectivity features.

Safety technologies include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

The Shark is expected to be priced starting at around AU$70,000 before on-road costs, which is comparable to the cost of similar high-end diesel-powered utes in Australia.