BYD previews Shark 6 pickup in Thailand, will PH be next?

Only several weeks ago, BYD officially brought the Shark pickup truck to Southeast Asia. First making its regional debut in Cambodia, it might only be a matter of time before other countries in SE Asia get the electrified pickup truck.

BYD brought a right-hand drive version of the Shark DM-i at this year's Thailand International Motor Expo. While the automaker is not yet ready to launch it in The Land of Smiles, the pickup truck will be called the Shark 6 which is also its name in Cambodia. This means the Shark 6 name could be exclusive to Southeast Asian countries.

As for the pickup truck itself, the model previewed in Thailand is actually an Australian-spec unit. It's powered by the brand's DM-o powertrain which is a derivative of BYD's DM-i system. The “o” signifies the system's off-road capability as claimed by the automaker.

Like the one revealed in Cambodia, it has a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's paired with either single or dual electric motors. It also has a 29.58 kWh lithium-iron phosphate Blade battery which gives the vehicle an electric range of up to 100 km based on the NEDC cycle.

With a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery, BYD says the pickup truck can cover up to 840 km and more. When it comes to payload capacity, the Shark 6 is rated to lug 835 kg. Towing capacity, on the other hand, is 2,500 kg. Compared to most pickup trucks, the Shark 6 is slightly down when it comes to hauling and towing heavy payloads.

Output-wise, however, the Shark 6 with a pair of electric motors cranks out an impressive 435 PS and 650 Nm of torque. This makes BYD's pickup truck quick and powerful despite not having a large-capacity engine under the hood.

With the Shark 6 set to be launched in Thailand soon where pickup trucks are popular, BYD could capitalize with such a vehicle that benefits from a plug-in hybrid system while still being able to carry cargo with ease.

The only question now is, when can we expect the Shark 6 to arrive in the Philippines?