Yet one more instance of the upcoming BYD electrified pickup has been spied forward of its beforehand confirmed Australian launch in 2024.
These newest photographs, revealed by Sina, present a boxy prototype with much less camouflage than beforehand spied examples.
This has allowed us to get a glimpse on the ute’s entrance fascia that undoubtedly has some F-150 Raptor styling cues, with a grille spelling out BYD. It additionally seems just like the newest Foton Tunland, which is now not offered in Australia.
In China this BYD pickup will reportedly be accessible with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric powertrains. It’ll additionally reportedly include rear- or all-wheel drive.
BYD in Australia has been purely EV-only thus far and lately dominated out introducing the Frigate 07 PHEV SUV regionally.
This as-yet unnamed BYD electrical ute will compete towards the likes of the LDV eT60, plus the incoming JAC T9 EV and (doubtlessly) the Radar RD6 regionally in 2024.
Luke Todd, managing director of native BYD distributor EVDirect, instructed CarExpert in December 2022 this electrical pickup has been “designed round Australian circumstances”, with each Chinese language and Australian engineers engaged on the undertaking.
Mr Todd described the BYD electrical pickup as a “sports activities muscle ute” and mentioned it’s barely bigger than the Toyota HiLux.
Additional official particulars are nonetheless scarce, however the ute is anticipated to be fitted with BYD’s in-house ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries which might be designed to deal with a nail take a look at with out thermal runaway.
Abroad studies counsel the BYD electrical pickup might be revealed as a near-production idea at this 12 months’s Chengdu Auto Present in September, with a Chinese language market launch across the fourth quarter of 2023.
‘New power car’ model BYD is presently increasing at a fast tempo, rolling out its EVs in Europe, Japan, and Australia – the place its Atto 3 small SUV is promoting in sturdy numbers after a few launch velocity bumps.
Actually, the Warren Buffet-back EV and battery provider eclipsed three million EV and PHEV gross sales globally in November final 12 months.
Hypothesis suggests the BYD pickup may be offered beneath the corporate’s so-called F sub-brand. An SUV from this sub-brand that’s reportedly based mostly on the pickup was lately teased.
Along with its premium spinoff Denza and the lately launched Yangwang model, BYD plans to launch “one other new model” which is able to specialize in “skilled and personalised identities, protecting household vehicles and luxurious vehicles”.
“The model will harness the co-creation with customers and warmly welcome all of the franchised dealerships to affix BYD for its promotion,” it added, suggesting the vehicles with greater levels of personalisation.
MORE: China’s BYD readying plug-in hybrid, electrical ute vary
