Months before the first batch of sample vehicles even reached customers, BYD Shark 6 was already demonstrating impressive strength in Australia’s competitive pickup market. Recently, the highly anticipated BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup officially launched and opened for pre-orders, starting at AUD 57.900 (approximately RMB 271.000). This price announcement created a sensation in the Australian market, leading to a surge in website traffic on BYD’s platform, causing it to crash temporarily.
The website opened for order processing at 7:30 PM Australian Eastern Daylight Time and was overwhelmed within minutes, with around 800 orders placed before the system went down. It was only able to reopen for orders after 11:00 PM. Despite the three-hour outage, BYD reported receiving 1.400 orders for the Shark 6 within the first 12 hours.
Due to skyrocketing demand, BYD decided to import an additional 1.000 units, with the first batch of deliveries expected between December 2024 and January 2025. totaling 2.000 units. This achievement rivals the average monthly sales of the Isuzu D-MAX 4WD (around 2.040 units), though further market presence is required to match competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
It's noteworthy that the BYD Shark 6 offers a clear value-for-money advantage over competitors in Australia, with a price lower than the Ford Ranger XLT Bi-Turbo Double Cab (AUD 63.640 base price) and the Toyota HiLux SR5 with V-Active technology (AUD 63.260 base price). This competitive pricing has given BYD Shark 6 a strong market entry, backed by impressive initial order volumes that further establish its local market foundation.
As the first plug-in hybrid pickup model to launch in Australia, the BYD Shark 6 has gained a head start over rivals like the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T.
The BYD Shark 6 is positioned as a premium intelligent new-energy pickup. Its design incorporates a streamlined, connected aesthetic, enhancing its modern technological appeal as a new-energy vehicle. It is categorized as a mid-to-large pickup with dimensions of 5457x1971x1925mm, a 3260mm wheelbase, and a cargo bed size of 1520x1500x517mm.
The Shark 6 is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system comprising a 1.5T four-cylinder gasoline generator and dual electric motors, delivering a total system power of 321 kW and a total torque of 650 Nm. The vehicle includes a 29.58 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, with an NEDC all-electric range of 100 km and a combined fuel consumption of only 2.0L/100 km.
Although the Shark 6's power and torque outperform almost all dual-cab competitors and its 0-100 km/h acceleration is even faster than the Ford Ranger Raptor, its braking towing capacity is limited to 2.5 tons—lower than the 3.5 tons offered by most Ranger and Hilux models. However, according to BYD executives in Australia, while the first-generation pickup doesn't meet the 3.5-ton towing capacity, future models will follow up on this aspect, with an all-electric version planned for the future.
