BYD Shark 6 cab/chassis wouldn't exist without Australia, says Chinese brand

TheBYD Shark 6 cab/chassis unveiled in Australia last week wasn’t part of the brand’s original local product rollout plans, with strong customer demand prompting the company to introduce the new body style.

BYD’s first ute was launched in a single body style in October 2024 and has since become BYD’s second-best seller, as well as the fifth most popular ute overall behind the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton – despite offering only plug-in hybrid power in a segment dominated by diesels.

All four of those rivals offered cab/chassis variants in 2025, typically positioned as more affordable and work-focused alternatives.

Speaking through an interpreter at the Melbourne motor show last week, BYD Asia Pacific boss Liu Xueliang said the cab/chassis Shark 6 was never part of the original plan for Australia.

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“About three years ago I promised the consumers in Australia that every year we will bring in new models to really impress consumers and fulfill the needs in the local market,” he said.

“We have just launched the Shark cab/chassis which has been very much welcomed by a lot of consumers.

“We didn’t consider this model before, [but] we were hearing the voices from consumers about the requirement, the need for this cab/chassis truck model.

“That’s why we developed this special model just for the consumer here, and [hopefully] it turns out to be very popular model.”

BYD had to warn customers in January 2025 that the Shark 6’s tub wasn’t designed to be removed due to the PHEV hardware underneath, and confirmed it would launch a cab/chassis version.

The Shark 6 Dynamic cab/chassis, on sale now, is priced at $55,900 before on-road costs, $2000 less than the standard ‘style-side’ version already on sale with the same PHEV powertrain.

It’s thus far the only cab/chassis PHEV in Australia.

The Ford Ranger PHEV launched in 2025 doesn’t offer a cab/chassis variant, with Ford Australia citing key components of its hybrid system being housed in the pickup tub.

The GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV is also available only as a pickup, although its $53,490 before on-road costs starting price undercuts the Shark 6 Dynamic cab/chassis.

The new body style is expected to further boost the Shark 6’s strong sales, after it finished as the best-selling PHEV ute and the 18th best-selling vehicle overall in Australia last year.

The Shark 6 lineup will also expand with a new flagship Performance, featuring a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder PHEV powertrain.

MORE: 2026 BYD Shark 6 pricing: Range expands with cab/chassis, quicker and more capable Performance

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