BYD is at it again, shaking up the truck market with a new pickup truck recently caught testing. This isn’t just another run-of-the-mill pickup, this one’s expected to launch in South America by 2026, according to Auto-home. What makes this so interesting, you ask? Well, BYD’s already got a player in the international pickup game, the formidable BYD Shark. This new, still-unnamed contender looks set to slot in below the Shark, likely bringing a more compact size and a value-focused approach.
Design and Positioning: A Familiar Face, a New Segment
Spy shots pretty clearly show a double-cab configuration, but with a cargo bed that appears to be a bit more modest than what you’d find on the Shark. Out on the front, you can still see those distinctive “Dragon Face” design cues that BYD has perfected, giving it a strong visual connection to its siblings. Inside, hints of a simpler, more modest trim suggest this new truck is aiming for a different segment than the premium Shark, likely appealing to buyers looking for practicality and affordability.
Unibody Construction and Potential Powertrain
While we don’t have official word on the technical specs yet, there’s a lot of talk about this new pickup possibly featuring BYD’s plug-in hybrid technology. That would certainly be a smart move, capitalizing on BYD’s expertise in new energy vehicles. What’s truly intriguing are the visible underbody elements from the test images. They point towards a unibody construction, which is a bit of a departure from the traditional body-on-frame chassis you typically find in pickups. Couple that with a noted double-wishbone rear suspension, and you’ve got a truck that promises a different driving experience, potentially offering a more car-like ride and handling.
The BYD Shark: A Benchmark for Performance and Market Reach
To really get a sense of where this new pickup fits, let’s look at its big brother, the BYD Shark. The Shark, built on BYD’s DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) platform, is a beast measuring 5,457 mm long, 1,971 mm wide, and 1,925 mm high, with a 3,260 mm wheelbase. It packs a serious punch with dual electric motors paired with a 1.5-liter internal combustion engine, delivering over 430 horsepower. That’s enough to launch it from 0 to 100 km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds. The Shark has already made a significant splash in international markets, with exports hitting around 34,672 units by November 2025. It’s already cruising the roads of Mexico, Brazil, Panama, Cambodia, and Australia.
Expanding the Pickup Horizon
This new, smaller, and more value-oriented pickup is a strategic move for BYD. It’s all about broadening their international lineup, much like other Chinese automakers are expanding their global footprint. By offering an alternative to the full-sized Shark, BYD aims to capture a wider audience in the lighter and more compact pickup segment. This could be a game-changer for those markets where a more manageable and affordable truck is highly sought after, proving that sometimes, less truly is more. It shows BYD’s commitment to dominating the global EV market, one segment at a time.
