BYD design patent leaks, revealing new lower-priced pickup truck [Images]

BYD is gearing up to reveal a new pickup truck that will sit under the Shark as a lower-priced alternative. A new design patent offers a closer look.

Is BYD launching a new, lower-priced EV pickup?

China isn’t really known for its pickup trucks, but that is changing. Several automakers, including BYD and Geely’s Radar Auto, are making a name for themselves in overseas markets with new battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup trucks.

BYD launched its first pickup, the Shark 6, in Mexico this May. It’s now sold in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Panama, Peru, and a few other countries, competing with the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

The Shark is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup that’s built on BYD’s DMO (Dual Mode Off-Road) platform. It uses a 29.58 kWh battery, dual electric motors, and a 1.5L turbocharged engine that packs about 430 hp (321 kW) and 650 Nm of torque.

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BYD’s pickup offers an electric range of up to 62 mi (100 km). Combined, the Shark can drive around 522 mi (840 km).

Now, it looks like China’s EV giant is already preparing a second pickup. New design patents filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) reveal what appears to be a smaller pickup than the Shark.

Although BYD didn’t reveal prices or specs, a few design clues suggest this will be a lower-priced, compact pickup, compared to the mid-size Shark 6.

A “baby shark,” if you will. The new pickup was spotted in China earlier this month, covered in camouflage. Despite the disguise, it appeared a bit more compact than the Shark, with a smaller bed.

The new patent designs reveal it will have a unibody design, typical of smaller crossovers, suggesting it will sit below the Shark in the lineup. According to CarNewsChina, BYD’s new pickup will be the entry-level model for its Shark family.

BYD has yet to say if it will be fully electric or a plug-in, but local sources have reported that it will use the same DMO platform as the Shark 6. It could also be underpinned by BYD’s lower-cost DM-i or DM-p hybrid powertrain setups.