This is the 2024 BYD Shark PHEV pickup truck

After releasing teaser images of its upcoming pickup truck last month, BYD has officially taken the covers off its electrified workhorse. Officially making its world debut in Mexico is the 2024 BYD Shark, and it’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck that wants to take on the midsize pickup market.

Featuring an exterior design that appears to have been inspired by the Ford F-150, the stylish and high-tech pickup combines the frugality of an electrified vehicle and the capability & practicality of a workhorse vehicle. But before we get into the nitty & gritty details, let’s talk about its size first.

BYD claims the Shark PHEV is the largest vehicle in its class. Measuring 5475mm long, 1971mm wide, and 1925mm tall, the Shark is indeed big. Compared to the GWM Cannon, the BYD Shark is longer by 47mm, 37mm wider, and 39mm taller. This makes the BYD pickup larger than its other contemporaries which include the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and the Mitsubishi Triton.

Unlike most pickup trucks which have leaf springs in the back, the Shark PHEV actually has a fully independent rear suspension. This means it will likely have a more comfort-oriented ride which will likely attract those that want a lifestyle pickup.

BYD didn’t mention anything about the Shark’s bed size. However, we won’t be surprised if it has bigger (or similar) dimensions compared to the GWM Cannon. Over to the vehicle’s looks, the front fascia bears an uncanny resemblance to the Ford F-150, particularly the Lightning EV with its distinct LED daytime running lights. It also has a bold grille with the BYD letters proudly on display, rugged bumpers, and black body cladding on the wheel arches.

Hop aboard and the BYD Shark greets occupants into a car-like cabin complete with high-tech amenities. There’s a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a tablet-like 12.8-inch touchscreen media display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. Heck, the system also comes with a built-in karaoke system to let passengers even have more fun.

Other key features available inside the Shark PHEV include; a 12-inch heads-up display for the driver, intelligent voice recognition, a digital key, a 50W wireless charging pad for mobile phones, soft-touch materials, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor system.

Powering the BYD Shark PHEV is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s assisted by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. While initial reports said the powertrain was rated to put out 480 PS, the pickup truck actually makes slightly less with 436 PS. Despite the slight dip in power, it still makes more than what the competition produces.

Since it’s a PHEV, it can travel purely on electric power. Based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), BYD claims the Shark PHEV can travel up to 100 km without using a drop of fuel. In addition, the truck can be recharged from 20% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes via DC fast charging. Should you need to power a worksite or campsite, the Shark PHEV comes with a V2L (vehicle-to-load) system.

As for payload and towing capabilities, the Shark PHEV is rated to carry up to 835 kg of cargo. Meanwhile, its towing capacity is rated at 2,500 kg. While not the most impressive figures, you have to remember it has an independent suspension both in the front and in the back.

There’s no word yet from BYD Philippines if they have plans to offer the Shark PHEV here in the future. But given the popularity of pickup trucks in the local market, perhaps they already have plans to bring it here but have yet to make an official announcement about it. For now, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.