The BYD Shark may not be available in the U.S., but it has entered North America with the plug-in hybrid truck’s launch in Mexico in 2024. Talking to CNBC in January 2025, Ford’s President and CEO, Jim Farley, described the Shark as “a great product,” stating that it is selling well.
At the Bangkok International Motor Show 2025, I got up close with the BYD Shark, where it is called the ‘Shark 6,’ and here are my observations.
Design
The Shark has a bold front with the BYD logo, LED headlights, and a full-width daytime running light. It is hoisted on two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels that match its rugged look. At 5,457 mm (214.8 in.) in length, 1,971 mm (77.6 in.) in width, and 1,925 mm (75.8 in.) in height, it is a mid-size pickup truck that feels manageable on and well-suited for Asian or European roads.
After spending some time closely examining its exterior, three features really stood out to me: the F-150-inspired headlights, the two-tone wheels, and the boxy tail lamps. That said, I would have liked to see a more individual character, something BYD has successfully achieved in the case of many of its sedans and SUVs.
Interior & Features
The BYD Shark has a simplistic interior featuring a tall and bulky dashboard, a four-spoke steering wheel with a chunky center pad, vertical AC vents on the sides, and a wide center console. BYD offers the Shark with features like a 10.25-inch driver information display, a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and satellite navigation, a 50W wireless smartphone charger, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
For enhanced comfort, BYD offers an 8-way power adjustable driver seat with 4-way power lumbar support and ventilation and heating functions, as well as a 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat with ventilation and heating functions. The rear seat doesn’t come with any of those features, though.
I’m 5’7″ and despite the high roofline, I found ingress and egress comfortable. When I sat in the driver’s seat, I first checked for all-around visibility. It was excellent. The steering wheel, with a manually adjustable column, felt just okay, as the material on the wheel felt a bit tacky. My head was comfortably below the headliner. Lumbar support felt good, while under-thigh support was okay. I felt that the cushion could’ve been a little longer.
Overall material quality was good, but on closer inspection, I think the steering wheel trim could use an upgrade in future model years. During my time in the truck, I particularly liked the toggle switches in the center console.
The gauge cluster had decent graphics but lacked a cohesive look. The infotainment screen didn’t impress. There were no physical controls for volume or climate, and the graphics quality was not great, with a grainy Spotify icon catching my attention. While I appreciate its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support and quick responses, its user interface needs work.
In the second row, sitting behind the driver’s seat adjusted for a 5’7 person, I had excellent legroom and knee room. The default angle of the backrest felt comfortable. There was no recline function in the version I sat in.
Under-thigh support was decent, but again, the cushion could have been slightly longer. I had great headroom. Rear seat passengers get a center armrest with two cupholders, which I found useful, and two AC vents. There’s also a 230V 10A outlet, one USB-A port, and one USB-C port, which are practical additions.
Specifications
The BYD Shark combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two motors, one in the front and one in the back. The engine produces 135 kW (181 hp) and 260 Nm (192 lb.-ft.) of torque, the front motor 170 kW (228 hp) and 310 Nm (229 lb.-ft.) of torque, and the rear motor 150 kW (201 hp) and 340 Nm (251 lb.-ft.) of torque. Together, they deliver 321 kW of system power and 650 Nm (479 lb.-ft.) of system torque.
The Shark accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.7 seconds. It offers an unbraked towing capacity of 750 kg (1,653 pounds), a braked towing capacity of 2,500 kg (5,512 pounds), and a payload capacity of 790 kg (1,742 pounds).
BYD uses a 60-liter gasoline tank and a 29.58 kWh LFP battery pack in the Shark. Customers can charge the battery pack through an AC charger, at up to 7 kW, and also through a DC charger, at up to 55 kW. A 30-80% DC charging session takes as little as 25 minutes.
BYD says the plug-in hybrid electric pickup truck can travel up to 100 km (62 miles) in EV mode, and while it has yet to release the complete specifications for Thailand, in Australia, it claims a total NEDC range of 800 km (497 miles). A vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional charging functionality is available, allowing customers to supply up to 6 kW of power to external devices.
Pricing
In Mexico, where BYD launched the Shark first globally, customers get a choice of two grades: GL and GS. The plug-in hybrid electric pickup truck retails at MXN 899,980 (USD 44,120) in the GL grade and MXN 969,800 (USD 47,543) in the GS grade.
Not expected in the U.S.
BYD has no plans to launch passenger vehicles in the U.S. for now where it sells electric buses. The company appears to be focused on markets like Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The U.S. raised tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100% in May 2024, which would make imports like the BYD Shark far too expensive to compete with midsize pickups from brands like Ford and Toyota. The Shark is made in Zhengzhou, China, and exported globally.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
