Budget BYD Shark 6 rival breaks cover: 2026 GWM Cannon plug-in hybrid variant exposed in China as it gears up battle ute rivals BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV

GWM’s Cannon ute will get plug-in hybrid power in 2026 as a potential budget option to battle the BYD Shark 6.

The Cannon PHEV has appeared in Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings over in China, according to AutoHome. 

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It is likely the petrol-electric ute will arrive Down Under, as the plug-in hybrid ute market is expanding rapidly as emission regulations trample conventional ute options. Australia is also a major export market for GWM, which puts us at the front of the queue for new models.

It will give GWM a second plug-in hybrid ute choice for buyers, which is likely to come in cheaper than competitors in the space. 

The more expensive Cannon Alpha ute already has a plug-in variant in Australia, which starts from $61,490 (drive-away). 

The Cannon PHEV’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor will produce 185kW, a far cry from the hot selling Shark 6's 321kW. 

We also know the ute will employ a lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  

The Cannon PHEV measures up bigger than diesel Cannon, at 5653mm long compared to 5416mm and with a wheelbase of 3470mm as opposed to 3230mm.

The Cannon PHEV will face some stiff competition if it comes here, with the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best ute). It is priced from $57,900 drive-away.

If it comes to Australia it is likely the Cannon PHEV will be cheaper than the Shark 6, given the base dual-cab diesel variant starts from $35,990 (drive-away). 

Ford's Ranger PHEV is more expensive, but again offers more grunt and a 3500kg towing capacity.

The Cannon PHEV could be following a similar trajectory to many other GWM products on their route to Australia. 

GWM Australia officially announced the Tank 300 PHEV soon after its official China unveiling last year. 

Based on this, it can be speculated we might see the Cannon PHEV hit Australian showrooms in the next few months.