China calls in the Aussie experts! Ford and Holden engineers are developing BYD's first ute to ensure the dual-cab can take on the HiLux and Ranger in Australia

BYD has called in the Aussie experts for its first dual-cab ute, with the brand turning to former Ford and Holden engineers to ensure the tough truck is a fit for Australian roads.

Bringing Commodore- and Falcon-based ute knowledge to the table, BYD says the team have been responsible for "designing some of the best utes in Australia".

Asked whether the team had been assembled from former Holden and Ford staff in Australia, after both brands shutdown local manufacturing, EVDirects' Luke Todd told CarsGuide "yes, they are".

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"Our team of engineers, they've come from a background of designing some of the best utes in Australia," Mr Todd says.

"We've got a wonderful team that have been working hand-in-hand with the BYD design team, and I can tell you every effort has been put in to make sure it has got the maximum off-road capability, while... it drives like a sports car. When you get it on road it does what you want it to do."

Mr Todd has also confirmed the brand's first ute will be equipped with a petrol-electric powertrain, with a full-electric model to follow around 12 months later.

First, though, will be a "best of both worlds" ute that can travel 100kms in pure electric mode, or around a 1000kms when the petrol tank and battery are combined.

The same plug-in hybrid technology exists in a number of PHEV models already on the market, and the brand's U8 luxury SUV - also confirmed for Australia - which is equipped with a mega powertrain.

The same plug-in hybrid technology exists in a number of PHEV models already on the market, and the brand's U8 luxury SUV - also confirmed for Australia - which is equipped with a mega powertrain. This pairs a small 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with four electric motors - one at each wheel - to deliver a staggering 880kW and 1280Nm.

BYD is yet to confirm specifics of the ute's powertrain, though it has confirmed it will feature a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

"We're really wanting to make sure this vehicle is the next full-blown desirable model for Australia, and I'm pretty confident in everything that I've seen," Mr Todd says.

"The biggest shock for me was how capable it was off-road, then you jumped straight back on the highway and it was just riding like a high-quality sports car.

"It was outstanding, really quick acceleration, great handling and then you take it off-road and it does what you want to. So it's very unique and we can't wait to get it into the public domain."