BYD Shark 6 ute range may gain more variants in Australia

Key highlights:

• BYD is considering more Shark 6 variants for Australia
• No lighter-duty, car-based Shark 6 has been confirmed
• BYD wants stronger cab-chassis sales, especially among fleets

BYD could expand its Shark 6 ute range in Australia, with the brand considering more configurations for customers, but despite claims from New Zealand, BYD says there are no locked-in plans for a lighter-duty, car-based version.  For now, the focus remains on finding more ways to build out the existing ute range.

No confirmed lighter-duty Shark 6

BYD Australia is reportedly looking at different options for the Shark 6, and the company’s chief operating officer Stephen Collins pointed to the Ford Ranger as an example of how a broad range can work for a popular ute.

That does not mean BYD has confirmed any new variants yet. Collins responded with a simple “not really” when asked about comments from BYD New Zealand general manager Warren Wilmot.

Wilmot had said BYD was working on a “more suitable workhorse ute” under the Shark 6, and this comment came after BYD revealed the Mako ute for Brazil in August.

The Mako uses car-derived underpinnings based on the Sealion 6, but Wilmot said BYD had ruled out that model for both New Zealand and Australia.

Despite Collins’ response, BYD Australia has not completely ruled out a lighter-duty model. The door remains open, but there is simply no confirmed model at this stage.

The Shark 6 currently comes in three PHEV configurations in Australia:

Also read: BYD Atto 3 EVO gets rear-wheel drive and 230kW power

Ranger shows the size of the opportunity

Ford offers considerably more combinations with the Ranger, as the ute comes in nine trim levels, excluding the two Ranger Super Duty variants.

Buyers can also choose from three engines, two drive layouts and three cabin sizes, and for Model Year 2027, Ford offers more than 20 Ranger combinations.

BYD believes that broad choice contributes to the Ranger’s sales performance.

Through August 2026, Ford had recorded 32,796 Ranger sales, compared with 12,094 Shark 6 deliveries.

BYD wants more from the cab-chassis

BYD added two new models to its lineup earlier this year, but the company still sees room to grow the Shark 6 cab-chassis. Collins said its sales have been “okay”, but fleets take time to adopt new vehicles.

He described the cab-chassis as an important part of the range, particularly for fleet customers that need fit-for-purpose options.

Despite BYD’s interest in expanding customer choice and the claims coming from New Zealand, no additional Shark 6 variants have been spotted testing or in development in Australia or internationally. For now, BYD appears to be assessing where another Shark 6 could fit, rather than committing to a specific new model.