BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new-energy vehicles, presents the SHARK, its first pickup and a model that brings the benefits of plug-in Super Hybrid DMO technology to a fast-expanding market across Europe. BYD’s proven Super Hybrid powertrain brings performance far in advance of what can be achieved by traditional diesel pickups, along with class-leading efficiency and the ability to travel up to 55 miles on electric power alone.
The SHARK is designed for customers seeking a more efficient type of pickup that can complete many journeys on electricity alone, while retaining the ability to keep up with the demands of work and active lifestyles, including longer-distance travel. With seating for five in its double-cab layout, the SHARK offers a comfortable cabin, complete with typically useful BYD technologies. And it brings Vehicle-to-Load, allowing a range of devices to be powered – for work and play – from any of two onboard power sockets.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Super Hybrid to the pickup segment with the SHARK. This type of vehicle really benefits from our DMO Super Hybrid technology, offering pure-electric capability, the most power in the class, excellent off-road capability, outstanding efficiency and long-distance flexibility. And our innovative approach to technology delivers stand-out features, including V2L that can really help at work and play. The market for plug-in hybrid pickups is expanding rapidly, and we’re confident that the SHARK will be really appreciated by customers across Europe who want this type of vehicle but aren’t willing to compromise on efficiency or comfort.”
RUGGED DESIGN, INSPIRED BY THE OCEAN’S MOST POWERFUL RESIDENT
The design of the SHARK exudes strength and confidence. As its name suggests, it takes inspiration from the shark, the ocean’s most powerful resident and an animal famed for its agility and power. The connection is most evident in the front-end styling, where the headlights high up at the bonnet edge are pulled as far apart as possible, to either edge of a single full-width line, to replicate the shark’s eyes, and the large grille and lower bumper section take visual cues from the open mouth as the animal moves in to attack prey.
The side profile features further oceanic cues, as the overall curvature of the roof profile and the muscular suspended cabin echo the rakish arc and power of a shark’s upper body. This is mixed with functional elements, including steps and plastic cladding on the lower bodywork and wheelarches that helps to protect the paintwork, while also reducing the visual depth of the door to give a greater sense of agility. The SHARK sits on 18-inch wheels and chunky tyres, filling the arches and enhancing the dynamic look.
At the rear, there’s a full-width lightbar that runs across the tailgate, and tail-lights that sit at the extreme edges of the vehicle and bracket inwards, exuding protection and strength. The biggest BYD logo in any passenger vehicle is integrated into the tailgate panel, replicating the treatment from the front grille.
The overall wheelbase is 3260mm, and the relatively short overhangs help to deliver approach and departure angles of 31° and 19.3° respectively.
The interior treatment builds on the image of strength, with prominent grab handles in the middle of the front cabin that give occupants extra reassurance when the SHARK is driving across rougher terrain. The environment is set up for comfort, with heated and ventilated front sports seats and softer materials in all key areas, and focuses on ease of use, with a column gear shifter and big buttons that are easy to access, even when wearing gloves.
The fascia breaks pickup convention with BYD’s typical two-screen layout – a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel (another rarity in the pickup segment) and the class’s largest infotainment screen, a crisp 15.6-inch panel that sits proud of the dashboard.
And rear-seat passengers don’t have to feel like they’re in second-class seats, as they do in conventional pickups; the SHARK’s fully flat floor means better space for three sets of feet, while there’s almost 90cm of legroom to match excellent headroom and elbow room. Factor in a car-like rear seat-back angle of 27° and you have an environment that’s more in line with what you can expect in a full-sized family SUV than in a normal pickup.
SUPER HYBRID DMO MIXES GO-ANYWHERE PERFORMANCE WITH EFFICIENCY
Super Hybrid has already been a huge success with European customers in BYD’s DM-i models – cars like the SEAL U DM-i, the SEAL 6 DM-i Touring and the SEALION 5 DM-i. Now the same principles of performance and efficiency are being applied to a vehicle with the ability to traverse rougher terrains, in Super Hybrid DMO (Dual Mode Off-road).
Super Hybrid DMO features two electric motors – one on the front axle with 231PS and 310Nm of torque, and another at the rear producing 204PS/340Nm. The combined maximum system output is 436PS and 650Nm of torque, enough for a sports car-rivalling 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds.
The SHARK can blend this potent performance with real-world efficiency because its DMO powertrain is designed, like DM-i, to offer an EV-first driving experience. So the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (mounted longitudinally) spends most of its time running as a generator of electricity for either the motors directly, or the Blade Battery that sits at the heart of the powertrain. On its own, it produces 150PS and 240Nm of torque.
The SHARK features a ladder-frame chassis, delivering better durability and wheel articulation – and its construction has been specifically designed to house the key components of the DMO powertrain. The Blade Battery is integrated into the platform using CTC (Cell-to-Chassis) technology, ensuring that it is properly protected in rougher conditions. CTC also significantly enhances the overall vehicle safety, since more than 50% of the construction is in high-strength steel, and the combined strength of the SHARK’s structure is 34,048Nm/deg.
At 32.2kWh, the SHARK’s Blade Battery has comfortably the largest capacity in the pickup segment – almost treble that of the only other plug-in hybrid on the European market. It ensures both outstanding pure-electric range of 55.9 miles – another new class benchmark – and excellent real-world efficiency and range. On a full charge and a full tank, the SHARK can travel 419 miles and its WLTP Weighted Fuel Consumption is just 80.7mpg. Even with the battery at its lowest level, it still returns 29.4mpg.
Recharging the battery fully from 15% SOC takes just over three hours when hooked up to a three-phase 11kW AC charger – and for faster refills, standard 55kW DC charging can take the battery from 30% to 80% in just 21 minutes.
The ‘Dual Mode’ of DMO refers to both EV and HEV (Hybrid) scenarios – but there are four operating situations. In EV mode the electric motors are driving the car exclusively. In HEV Series Mode, typically used in city conditions, the petrol engine is generating electricity to either power the motor or recharge the battery. When harder acceleration is required, the car can switch to HEV Parallel Mode, allowing the engine and the electric motors to work together to propel the vehicle. And then when the car reaches a fast cruise – on motorways, for example – the engine can directly drive the vehicle if this is deemed the most efficient way of maintaining speed.
On top of these hybrid control, managing performance and efficiency, the SHARK features an intelligent all-wheel drive system that manages power delivery over four different types of terrain: sand, mud, snow and gravel. Its suspension configuration – double wishbones at the front and rear – is designed to mix comfort with capability over a wide variety of surfaces, and Hill Descent Control is fitted as standard.
The SHARK has a towing capacity of 2500kg and a maximum payload of 790kg, making it suitable for many work projects and lifestyle scenarios – and the 1200-litre load bay is comfortably large enough for the types of cargo that need to be carried in work and everyday life.
EVERY KEY FEATURE COMES AS STANDARD ON SINGLE TRIM LEVEL
The SHARK is being offered in a single trim level – and as usual with a BYD, it comes loaded with standard equipment and innovations, many of them new to the pickup class. Cabin comforts include vegan-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
Useful technologies include a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel accompanied by a head-up display, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with navigation, voice assistant and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote control via the BYD app for advanced heating and cooling of the cabin, a 50W wireless smartphone-charging pad, exterior ‘puddle’ lights, front and rear parking sensors with a 360°-view camera, and keyless entry and keyless start.
In addition, the SHARK features two power sockets that allow connection to its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature. This provides up to 6.6kW of power to external devices, allowing tools to be connected at work sites, or everything from a coffee machine to a power washer to be hooked up for leisurely days away from home. V2L can be accessed using the car’s AC charging port or via a specific socket in the wall of the load bed.
BYD makes no compromises on safety, and the SHARK comes with a full suite of safety equipment and driver-assistance features. These include Intelligent and Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Brake, Forward and Rear Collision Warning, Lane Departure Assistant with Emergency Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Hill Hold Control. In addition, the SHARK is equipped with seven airbags – driver’s, front passenger’s, front centre, two front side and two side curtain – plus ISOFIX points on the rear passenger seats, Child Presence Detection, a mechanical child-safety lock and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
EVERY KEY FEATURE COMES AS STANDARD ON SINGLE TRIM LEVEL
The SHARK is available in choice of five exterior colours – the standard shade, Atlantis Blue, plus Obsidian Black, Polar White, Grey Green and Sunrise Orange. It gets 18-inch black/silver two-tone alloy wheels as standard, with 18-inch all-black items available as an option.
Prices start from £47,290 including VAT. Orders are open now, with deliveries due in Q4 2026.
| BYD SHARK technical specifications | |
| Items | Design |
| Dimensions (L/W/H, mm) | 5457/1971/1925 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 3260 |
| Kerbweight (kg) | 2710 |
| Gross vehicle weight (kg) | 3500 |
| Wheel size (inches) | 18 |
| Ground clearance (fully laden/unladen, mm) | 210/230 |
| Min turning radius (m) | 6.5 |
| Max towing capacity (braked/unbraked, kg) | 2500/750 |
| Front/rear suspension | Double wishbone |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Engine type | 1.5-litre turbocharged 4cyl petrol |
| Engine power (PS/kW) | 150/110 |
| Engine torque (Nm/lb ft) | 240/177 |
| Front electric motor max power (PS/kW) | 231/170 |
| Front electric motor max torque (Nm/lb ft) | 310/228 |
| Rear electric motor max power (PS/kW) | 204/150 |
| Rear electric motor max torque (Nm/lb ft) | 340/250 |
| Max system power (PS/KW) | 436/321 |
| Max system torque (Nm/lb ft) | 650/481 |
| Fuel tank capacity (L) | 60 |
| Battery type | BYD Blade Battery (LFP) |
| Rated battery capacity (kWh) | 32.2 |
| Top speed (mph) | 112 |
| 0-62mph acceleration time (s) | 5.7 |
| Pure-electric range, WLTP Combined (miles) | 55 |
| WLTP Combined range (km/miles) | 419 |
| Fuel consumption, WLTP Combined (mpg) | 29.4 |
| Fuel consumption, WLTP Weighted Combined (mpg) | 80.7 |
| CO2 emissions | 23 |
| Load bed volume (L) | 1200 |
| Max charging power (AC/DC) | 11kW/55kW |
| AC charging time (11kW 3-phase, 15%-100%) | 3.2hr |
| DC charging time (30%-80%) | 21min |
| V2L function (6kW) | Standard (2 sockets) |
