Next BYD ute takes shape!

Whether BYD wants to confirm its existence or not, the Chinese carmaker has clearly been working on a smaller, more lifestyle-oriented dual-cab ute to sit under the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute.

We’ve already seen this as-yet-unnamed BYD ute a number of times in thick camouflage in multiple parts around the world now, as well as in European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) patent imagery filings.

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It’s clear there is a connection between this new ute and the BYD Sealion 6 PHEV SUV as the main body section is virtually identical. The main differences include the altered front fascia, as well as the rear tub section.

Previous interior imagery of a spied prototype showed it’s virtually identical to the Sealion 6. There’s a large main touchscreen multimedia system, a digital instrument cluster and a storage section under the centre console. One of the few noticeable differences is the rounded gear selector.

Given this connection to the Sealion 6, this more than likely indicates that this ute will have a monocoque platform, rather than a ladder-frame chassis like the Shark 6. These typically prioritise passenger comfort over outright payload capacity.

It’s not uncommon for utes to be based on a monocoque platform, though many aren’t sold in Australia. Examples include the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, as well as the Geely Radar RD6 and KGM Musso EV. Only the latter is currently offered here.

At this stage no further details about this unnamed BYD ute have been officially confirmed yet, however given it’s likely connected to the Sealion 6, it’ll likely share its PHEV powertrain.

This model either comes with a single electric motor and a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing a total system output of 160kW, or dual electric motors and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing a total system output of 238kW or 258kW, depending on the battery size.

It’s currently unclear when BYD plans to unveil this new ute, though it will likely happen at some point during 2026.

BYD seems to be targeting this new ute at export markets, including Europe and South America, though it’s unclear whether Australia is in the plans.

In November BYD Asia Pacific General Manager Liu Xueliange denied all knowledge of a smaller ute to slot under the Shark 6, saying these “no plan”.

"No, we don't have any plans," he said through an interpreter when quizzed about the new model.

"It doesn't exist."

Last year BYD Australia former CEO David Smitherman said to CarsGuide the only way to go in the ute segment is up.

“But, you can see that the range of different [types of] utes in Australia is significant,” said Smitherman.

“We've had significant interest from fleets around [the Shark 6 and future variants there-of] …and around full-sized utes as well.

“And you know how passionate I am with my prior history about the full-sized ute segment.”

The larger BYD Shark 6 has experienced meteoric success in Australia since it launched locally in late 2024.

Until the end of November this year a total of 16,398 examples of the Shark 6 have been sold. This places it ahead of the likes of the GWM Cannon Alpha, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok.