BYD to build big American-style pick-up trucks

BYD is preparing to go to war with the likes of RAM, by introducing massive new pick-up trucks for Aussie drivers

They may rule the road but the large American pick-up trucks that Aussies love to hate could be attacked from an unlikely side: China.

The behemoths of the school run are set to come under intense pressure from fast-growing Chinese brand BYD, which will soon expand its ute offering beyond the Shark 6 that hits the road late this year.

BYD’s Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute are on the way to Australia. Photo: Supplied

BYD is currently developing a “full-size” pick-up truck to compete with the Chevrolet Silverado, RAM 1500 and Ford F-150, which between them have carved a handy and lucrative niche.

It’ll also take on the upcoming Toyota Tundra that plans to capitalise on demand for hefty trucks by promising Toyota reliability and durability in a suitably gargantuan body.

The super-sized BYD will take on Ford’s F-150.

Speaking at BYD’s headquarters in Shenzen, the brand’s general manager of Asia Pacific sales, Liu Xieliang, confirmed there were more utes on the way.

”For Shark 6 it will be the first ute we will launch in Australia but it’s never the last,” he said.

And it’s coming soon, according to one engineer who was instrumental in bringing the Shark 6 to reality.

”We still have other product line-ups in the Shark series,” revealed Michael Su, BYD product training specialist.

“There’s maybe one (ute) for next year … full-size.”

RAM’s 1500 is set to have fresh competition.

The make-up of the new large ute is unknown, but one thing is for sure: it’ll be powered mostly or wholly by electricity.

BYD – the top selling brand in China and the manufacturer providing the most EV competition to Tesla – these days only builds plug-in hybrids and full battery electric vehicles.

And the brand is fast earning a reputation for offering value as it attempts to steal sales from legacy brands such as Toyota, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai.

BYD has big plans for Australia. Photo: Supplied

When that large Shark pick-up truck does happen – expect it to be called Shark 7, 8 or 9 – it’ll have one huge advantage over its American rivals: it’ll emerge from the factory with the steering wheel on the right.

Ford, Toyota, RAM and Chevrolet all build their large utes in only left-hand drive and then undergo an extensive conversion process in Australia believed to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Shipping from China is also typically a lot cheaper than the US.

Throw in the made-in-China manufacturing advantage and the new large Shark could undercut its American rivals by $30,000 or $40,000, possibly more.

Little wonder BYD Australia is eagerly awaiting the newcomer.

If a larger ute was available the chief executive of BYD Australia importer EV Direct, David Smitherman, says he would “absolutely” take it.

“As a brand we’ve identified two segments we want to grow into and that’s SUVs and utes,” he said.

“We need to have a range of utes to compete in the marketplace.”

Originally published as BYD to build big American-style pick-up trucks