BYD explains BEV ute stance

THE feasibility of a battery electric ute model from BYD in Australia will depend on whether it can "address market needs” according to the Chinese electrified vehicle brand’s local director of public relations Paul Ellis.

Within the last two years, there have been significant developments in Australia’s electrified ute space. In 2024, the BYD Shark 6 became the first plug-in hybrid ute ever launched in Australia.

Less than a year later, Ford added a PHEV variant to its highly popular Ranger line-up. But while the Blue Oval has adopted plug-in hybrid power for its highly-popular ute model, in May of this year its Australian vehicle program director effectively ruled out a BEV version of the Ranger for the foreseeable future on the grounds that the technology fell short of required capability.

Toyota had the opposite approach, launching a battery electric version of the HiLux in Australia earlier this year alongside its turbo diesel and turbo diesel mild-hybrid stablemates, but does not currently offer a plug-in hybrid variant of its ute.

These three manufacturers aren’t the only marques to bring an electrified ute model to Australia in the last two years, with additional brands such as GWM, JAC, KGM launching either a BEV or PHEV-powered offering.

When asked where BYD stands when it comes to electric utes for Australia, Mr Ellis said it would consider such a model if it could identify a market need for one.

“We need to address market needs. If there is a need for that type of vehicle, a battery ute, then we would look at it. But there has to be a need because there’s no use producing a vehicle if there's no demand for it,” Mr Ellis explained. 

Mr Ellis pointed to mining companies as potential customers for an electric BYD ute, much in the same way that fellow Chinese brand JAC offered its T9 EV to the Warrikal mining company in Western Australia.

“If there is a need, it would probably be with niche organisations like mining companies and organisations such as that.”

“We're watching and we're looking and we're learning. We're a new brand, so we’d have to sort of present ourselves and make potential customers aware of what we can offer. If that means having discussions with major sections of industry and letting them know what technology we can provide for them and if they say, ‘yes, we need that', then we would look at it.”

BYD’s Shark 6 ute line-up expanded earlier this year, with the Cab-Chassis and Performance models joining the existing Premium model grade.

Since landing down under, the Shark 6 has enjoyed considerable sales success, with 27,566 examples sold in Australia since its arrival based on the latest available sales data at the time of writing.

Last year it was the 18th best-selling model overall in Australia and the fifth best-selling ute. It was also the best-selling plug-in hybrid model regardless of segment.

BYD’s ute portfolio could soon broaden further, with the smaller Mako (likely to be car-based and feature plug-in hybrid power) – potentially also using the Shark 5 name – being unveiled in September. However it is yet to be confirmed for Australia, expected in South American markets first.