Customers looking to place an aftermarket tray on the back of their Shark 6 will be able to do so… eventually. But a more affordable pick-up grade with a tub is not on the cards.
A cab-chassis version of the 2025 BYD Shark 6 ute is in the plan, but it may be a while away from showrooms.
However it will not be joined by a more affordable pick-up variant – with fewer features to hit a lower price point than the current Shark 6 Premium grade's $57,900 plus on-road costs – which BYD says is not planned.
It’s understood electrical components running through the rear of the Shark 6 for its plug-in hybrid system mean its tray cannot be removed as easily as a conventional diesel ute.
It means BYD needs to develop a separate cab-chassis model, and it is not as simple as shipping pick-ups without an integrated tub.
David Smitherman, CEO of BYD’s Australian distributor EVDirect, told Drive work is underway on such a vehicle, but suggested it is not due in the immediate future.
“Cab-chassis will definitely be on the radar, I’m not quite sure when,” he said. “It's being worked on. Certainly it's on the shopping list, for sure.”
Initial interest in the BYD Shark 6 has come from private buyers – many purchasing through a novated lease to take advantage of lucrative Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions due to expire after March 31 – but the executive said greater focus on fleets is planned.
“At the moment, we're not selling any fleet cars. We'll have ANCAP five[-star safety rating announced] in a couple of weeks, and I think that will almost negate that issue.”
Many fleets require a five-star safety rating as part of their occupational health and safety (OH&S) policies, so earning top marks in crash tests is a priority for many ute makers.
Smitherman said there are no plans for a base-model Shark ‘Essential’ with fewer features to hit a sharper price, similar to other models in the BYD range.
“We've had a look at that, and the economics are that with the scale of BYD, it actually doesn't quite work, because they have to bring in all of the tooling and the parts [for a lower-grade model],” he told Drive.
“The message to me is it's … a much better outcome to them [BYD head office to have a Premium grade only], so I think we'll have one trim.”
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
