BYD previews Shark 6 pickup in Thailand, will PH be next?

BYD Shark 6 revealed with DM-o electrified powertrain

Only several weeks ago, BYD officially brought the Shark pickup truck to Southeast Asia. First making its regional debut in Cambodia, it might only be a matter of time before other countries in SE Asia get the electrified pickup truck.

BYD brought a right-hand drive version of the Shark DM-i at this year's Thailand International Motor Expo. While the automaker is not yet ready to launch it in The Land of Smiles, the pickup truck will be called the Shark 6 which is also its name in Cambodia. This means the Shark 6 name could be exclusive to Southeast Asian countries.

As for the pickup truck itself, the model previewed in Thailand is actually an Australian-spec unit. It's powered by the brand's DM-o powertrain which is a derivative of BYD's DM-i system. The “o” signifies the system's off-road capability as claimed by the automaker.

Like the one revealed in Cambodia, it has a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's paired with either single or dual electric motors. It also has a 29.58 kWh lithium-iron phosphate Blade battery which gives the vehicle an electric range of up to 100 km based on the NEDC cycle.

With a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery, BYD says the pickup truck can cover up to 840 km and more. When it comes to payload capacity, the Shark 6 is rated to lug 835 kg. Towing capacity, on the other hand, is 2,500 kg. Compared to most pickup trucks, the Shark 6 is slightly down when it comes to hauling and towing heavy payloads.

Output-wise, however, the Shark 6 with a pair of electric motors cranks out an impressive 435 PS and 650 Nm of torque. This makes BYD's pickup truck quick and powerful despite not having a large-capacity engine under the hood.

With the Shark 6 set to be launched in Thailand soon where pickup trucks are popular, BYD could capitalize with such a vehicle that benefits from a plug-in hybrid system while still being able to carry cargo with ease.

The only question now is, when can we expect the Shark 6 to arrive in the Philippines?