BYD has officially introduced its first pickup truck, the Shark, in Mexico. BYD Chief of Americas Stella Li said Mexico was chosen due to the increasing demand for pickup trucks in the country.
It is interesting to note that the Shark was launched just hours after Joe Biden announced a tariff increase from 25% to 100% on EVs from China.
Reuters reported that BYD does not have any plans to sell the Shark in the United States.
As previously reported, the Shark uses a new plug-in hybrid powertrain known as the DMO (Dual-Mode Off-Road).
The PHEV powertrain features a combination of a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and two electric motors that generate a total power of 430 hp, allowing the Shark to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.
The battery specifications are not disclosed, but this truck offers an electric driving range of up to 100 km (NEDC cycle) and a total driving range of 840 km. The fuel consumption rate is approximately 7.5 litres per 100 km.
Like the Leopard 5, the Shark is built on a ladder frame chassis. It measures 5,457 mm in length, 1,971 mm in width, 1,925 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 3,260 mm, making it larger than the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
The chassis is combined with an independent suspension system at the front and rear, which BYD claims can offer a balance between handling performance and comfort.
The Shark is a true and true pickup truck, so it boasts a maximum towing capacity of up to 2,500 kg. The truck bed offers a cargo space of 1,450 litres with a payload limit of 835 kg. For off-road driving, there are three selectable modes: Sand, Mud, and Snow.
Inside, you will find several elements synonymous with the BYD brand, including a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
Additionally, it features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the “Hi BYD” voice command system, karaoke function (microphone sold separately), a 50W wireless charger, and a 12-inch head-up display.
The safety system includes six airbags and ADAS features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Navigation System (ICC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross Collision Warning (RCTA), Rear Cross Collision Braking (RCTB), and more.
In Mexico, the Shark is available in two variants, namely the GL and GS. The selling price starts from 899,980 pesos (RM250,356) for the former and 969,800 pesos (RM269,777) for the latter.
