U.S. lawmakers and automakers have long feared the possible invasion of cheap Chinese vehicles, particularly since many of them are already on sale in Mexico. However, that country recently agreed to drop incentives for Chinese automakers, and just yesterday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new, higher tariffs on Chinese EVs, specifically. Regardless, BYD has long been eyeing Mexico as a site for its future expansion, even though it doesn’t plan on selling vehicles in the U.S. Now, it has revealed its latest model for that market, as well as a Ford Ranger rival, too – the BYD Shark.
The BYD Shark isn’t a pure all-electric vehicle, but rather, a mid-size pickup with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and for now at least, it will only be sold in Mexico. The Shark is also BYD’s first new product launch to take place outside of China, and is aimed at the competitive Mexican pickup market. The BYD Shark will be a bit more expensive than its rivals, however, ranging from 899,980 pesos ($53,442 USD) for the base Shark GL to 969,800 pesos ($57,588 USD) for the premium Shark GS.
Aside from its bold exterior design with a massive “BYD” script in the front grille – a la the Ford Raptor lineup – the Shark is decidedly boxy and bears a traditional pickup shape, and that theme continues inside the cabin. There, one will find plenty of square and rectangular shapes, a center console-mounted shifter, a 10.25-inch instrument display, 12-inch head-up display, and a 12.8-inch infotainment screen that can rotate between portrait and landscape modes.
The most intriguing part of the BYD Shark, however, is its electrified powertrain – which mates a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with a pair of electric motors to make 430 combined horsepower. That results in a max tow rating of 5,511 pounds, a payload capacity of 1,841 pounds, and a 0-62 mph time of 5.7 seconds. The Shark can also travel 62 miles on electric power alone via its 30 kWh battery, and up to 528 miles in total with a full tank and charged battery – an impressive figure, indeed.
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Comments
Ford already fears BYD. I’d fear them more after seeing this attractive truck, reading its capabilities, and know it is knocking on our southern door.. It looks like a winner. It will be interesting to see if it lives up to its advertised specifications.
They don’t fear BYD. They fear the market manipulation & technology theft the Chinese are well known for!
It’s Chinese. Chinese companies specialize in lies and IP theft. It probably has 250 miles of range, has zero safety score in a wreck, and the batteries will almost certainly catch fire
You Hope!! 🙂
Yeah. China would like to thank all the automakers that “invested” in China over the past several years. They have stolen all your IP and will now use it against you.
You think that’s funny? A country that must steal technology & innovation to even compete? It’s PATHETIC.
ABSOLUTELY TRUTH 💯
Tesla should be the folks flipping out. They are on the Blackberry path to oblivion!!
Looks to be a winner. Interested to learn more about it, and how it holds up.
You ..an you alone. Lol
100%
The pricing will tell when it will be successful or not
BYD = Very good vehicles!