- BYD Shark pick-up arrives in UK
- Priced from £47,290 including VAT
- Plug-in hybrid powertrain with 55-mile EV range
- Rapid: 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds
- 790kg payload and 2.5-tonne towing capacity
- Available to lease soon!
BYD has sunk its teeth into the UK pick-up market by launching its first ever truck - the plug-in hybrid Shark.
The Chinese brand is positioning the Shark as a high-powered, high-spec alternative to traditional diesel pick-ups. It’s priced from £47,290, including VAT.
Yet the Shark’s strongest appeal may be for company users.
With 23g/km CO2 emissions and a 55-mile electric range, the Shark sits in a 10% Benefit-in-Kind band for 2026/27.
That gives it a very different tax position from many diesel double-cab pick-ups, which typically fall into the highest 37% company car tax bands.
What’s the payload and towing capacity of the BYD Shark?
There’s a trade-off here between working ability and the dosh you’ll shell-out to the taxman.
The Shark has plenty of power and a useful electric range, but its 790kg payload and 2.5-tonne towing capacity mean it falls short of the one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing figures expected of traditional commercial pick-ups.
For the right buyer, though, that may not be a deal-breaker.
Is the BYD Shark a plug-in hybrid?
It is indeed - and a powerful one at that.
The Shark uses BYD’s Super Hybrid DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) plug-in hybrid system, combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors.
Together, the system produces 436hp and 650Nm of torque. With all-wheel drive for traction, that translates to a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds - more than two seconds quicker than the 3.0-litre V6 powered Ford Ranger Raptor.
The petrol engine produces 150hp on its own, but mainly acts as a generator for the electric drive system or battery.
Energy is stored in a 32.2kWh BYD Blade Battery, giving the Shark an official 55-mile WLTP electric range, while total combined range is quoted at 419 miles from a full battery and full 60-litre petrol tank.
Official fuel economy is 80.7mpg, although BYD also quotes 29.4mpg when the battery is at its lowest level.
Charging from 15% to 100% takes 3.2 hours on an 11kW AC charger. DC charging is also supported at up to 55kW, taking the battery from 30% to 80% in around 21 minutes.
Is the BYD Shark a lifestyle or leisure pick-up?
The Shark is a big vehicle. Seriously big. At 5,457mm long, it’s longer than a Ford Ranger, although its 3,260mm wheelbase is similar.
There's a ladder-frame chassis, double-wishbone suspension front and rear, and an intelligent all-wheel-drive system with terrain modes for sand, mud, snow and gravel. Ground clearance is 230mm when unladen.
The load bed offers 1,200 litres of space, but the relatively low payload and towing limits mean the Shark is unlikely to replace a diesel pick-up for heavy-duty operators.
It will, however, appeal to buyers who want a plug-in hybrid pick-up for company use, lifestyle duties, light work, or accessing low-emission zones while still having open-bed practicality.
Vehicle-to-load technology is standard, allowing the Shark to provide up to 6.6kW of external power for work tools or something rather more lifestyle focused like a coffee machine.
What’s the cabin of the BYD Shark like?
BYD is offering the Shark in a single high-spec trim level.
Inside, there is a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, head-up display and a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, along with navigation, voice control, remote app functions and a 50W wireless phone charger.
Standard equipment also includes vegan-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
There's also a raft of driver assistance technology including adaptive cruise control, front and rear cross-traffic alert, forward and rear collision warning, lane departure assistance, emergency lane keeping, blind spot detection, hill hold control, seven airbags and tyre pressure monitoring.
What are the main rivals to the BYD Shark?
The BYD Shark will arrive as the plug-in hybrid pick-up market begins to grow.
Its closest rival is the Ford Ranger PHEV, which offers stronger working credentials, including a higher payload and towing capacity.
However, the BYD has a longer official electric range and a lower VAT-inclusive starting price than a comparable Ford Ranger PHEV Wildtrak.
That makes the Shark an unusual proposition. It is not the obvious choice for operators who need a proper one-tonne commercial pick-up, but it could be far more attractive to company users who value low BIK over outright load lugging ability.
Deliveries are due to begin in Q4 2026.
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