BYD has entered the UK pick-up market with the launch of the BYD Shark, a plug-in hybrid double cab truck.
The new Shark truck combines an electric driveline with petrol power and will go head-to-head with the Ford Ranger PHEV in the floundering segment which has been hit hard by the tax changes for company car drivers.
The Shark is the Chinese manufacturer’s first pick-up and follows the reveal of the converted BYD Dolphin Cargo car-derived van at the CV Show in April. BYD will also launch the e-Vali large electric van, having shown examples of the new van at recent trade shows.
The Shark will benefit from significantly lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax than a conventional diesel double cab, which is now treated as a passenger car for tax purposes.
Read our Ford Ranger PHEV review
However, the Shark’s 790kg payload means it falls below the one-tonne threshold required to qualify as a commercial vehicle for VAT purposes.
Power comes from BYD’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) plug-in hybrid system, which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 32.2kWh battery and electric motors on both axles to provide permanent four-wheel drive. The petrol engine acts primarily as a generator, although it can also assist with driving when required.
The system produces a combined 436PS and 650Nm of torque, giving the Shark a claimed 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds.
It can tow up to 2,500kg and offers an official electric-only range of 55 miles. Combined fuel economy is a claimed 80mpg, although BYD says this falls to around 29mpg once the battery is depleted.
The load bed offers 1,200 litres of space, while two vehicle-to-load (V2L) power outlets allow users to run tools and other electrical equipment directly from the traction battery.
The Shark is offered in a single, highly specified trim level priced from £47,290.
Standard equipment includes vegan leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry and start, plus a 12-speaker Dynaudio audio system.
Inside, drivers get a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, head-up display, a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 50W wireless smartphone charger.
Safety technology includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, forward and rear collision warning, lane departure assistance with emergency lane keeping, plus front and rear cross-traffic alert with braking.
The BYD Shark is available to order now, with first UK customer deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of the year.
