Baby BYD Shark ute revealed in patent filing

The design of a smaller BYD dual-cab ute has been exposed in a patent application filed with the European Union Property Office after it was previously caught wrapped in camouflage – suggesting it could be a pickup version of the Sealion 6 mid-size SUV already available in Australia. 

Unearthed by CarNewsChina, the filings reveal the Chinese automaker’s smaller ute will be underpinned by a car-based monocoque (or unibody) platform, unlike the popular Shark 6 plug-in hybrid dual-cab also on sale here, which employs the more rugged ladder-frame construction typically preferred for off-road vehicles. 

This could make it a rival for compact car-based dual-cabs not sold Down Under, including the Ford Maverick – which uses the Ford Escape mid-size SUV as its base – and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is essentially a ute version of the Hyundai Tucson mid-size SUV, neither of which are produced in right-hand drive.

BYD Australia has not confirmed the model for Australia, given it has not officially been unveiled globally. 

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The identity of the four-door ute is yet to be revealed, with its design language following that of the Song Plus, an older version of the Sealion 6 – Australia’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in 2024.

The ‘baby Shark’ differs from its rear door back, where it turns from SUV into ute, with a far more conventional tray than the Deepal E07 Multitruck launched here in September 2025. 

Given its potential Sealion 6 base, the Shark’s smaller sibling would measure no more than 4775mm long, 1890mm wide and 1670mm high – making it shorter than the 5457mm Shark 6 – and have a kerb weight range of 1940-2160kg.

If so, it would also be shorter than the Santa Cruz (4970mm) and Maverick (5080mm). 

Hybrid powertrains are anticipated given its expected launch in Europe – and its potential Australian arrival – given the Sealion 6 is sold here with a PHEV powertrain based around a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (as per the Shark 6).

Outputs range from 160kW/122Nm in the entry-level front-wheel drive Sealion 6 Essential Standard Range, to 253kW/220Nm in the flagship all-wheel drive Premium Extended Range. 

The SUV is also offered here with two battery sizes – an 18.3kWh unit and a bigger 26.3kWh pack – with the smaller battery offering a 78km (WLTP) electric range, and the Dynamic Extended Range offering 119km (WLTP).

In addition to Europe and the UK, the lifestyle ute could join the Shark 6 in BYD’s rapidly expanding Australian lineup – and face few competitors Down Under, where the ute market is almost completely dominated by mid-size dual-cabs led by the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

BYD Australia is aiming for a top-three local auto market ranking next year and, earlier this year, it told CarExpert it would evaluate every model available to it – across sister brands including Fangchengbao, Denza and Yangwang.

It will officially launch the Denza luxury brand next month with the Denza B5 and Denza B8 large PHEV off-road SUVs, which are sold under the Fangchengbao name in China 

BYD’s Australian lineup will also be joined in 2026 by the Sealion 5 – a Toyota RAV4-sized PHEV SUV – following the launch next month of the pint-size Atto 1 electric hatch and Atto 2 electric SUV, which are expected to become the nation’s cheapest EV and electric SUV respectively.

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