BYD is set to introduce its Shark plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck to the Australian market in October, ahead of rival models from Ford and Great Wall Motor (GWM).
The 2025 BYD Shark 6 will be available for orders starting October 29, 2024, outpacing competitors like the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV by nearly a year.
According to a report by Drive, the BYD Shark 6 is expected to start at AUD$68,000, a price point similar to the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. The price information reportedly came from a leak in a government database, although official pricing has yet to be confirmed.
BYD’s decision to open orders in October may be strategic, with the Chinese automaker aiming to deliver the Shark 6 before Australia’s Fringe Benefits Tax exemptions for new plug-in hybrid vehicles expire.
The Shark 6 launch follows BYD’s global strategy, as the plug-in hybrid model was introduced in Mexico earlier this year, with plans to expand into North American markets as well.