BYD dismisses impact of FBT cut-off on delayed Shark 6

BYD Australia says it isn’t worried about losing Shark 6 sales to the ongoing delays that could see thousands of vehicles delivered after the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption cut-off for plug-in hybrids on April 1.

Speaking with carsales this week, EVDirect CEO David Smitherman said there were more than 5000 outstanding orders for the 2025 BYD Shark 6, and that the distributor was working as quickly as possible to deliver the vehicles currently stuck at sea due to ongoing industrial action at some Australian ports.

The local boss wouldn’t be drawn on revealing exactly how many Shark 6s were left circling off the coast or how much longer it would be before they reached port, but he did confirm at least some examples had made it onto dry land beyond the initial batch that arrived last fortnight.

“While we’re pleased to resume deliveries on these vehicles, we cannot specify the exact length of any delays,” he said.

“We are staying in contact with each customer to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about the arrival of their Shark 6.”

While EVDirect might not want to divulge the delays, patiently waiting but increasingly concerned customers do, with one Queensland buyer revealing the ETA on their vehicle (ordered in late November) had been pushed back from March to April – past the FBT exemption cut-off for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Government legislation dictates a PHEV novated lease must be settled and the vehicle delivered by close of business on March 31 to qualify for the FBT exemption.

According to the Shark 6 customer who reached out to carsales, the exemption quite literally means the difference between affording the vehicle or not, with weekly costs set to rise from roughly $220 a week to $380 depending on the agent.

“My partner ordered one last year and now he probably won’t be able to afford it,” they said.

“He said this morning that if the fortnightly cost increases to over $550 out of pocket a fortnight he will have to cancel it… it’s currently $450.”

The couple isn’t alone – dozens upon dozens of early adopters are getting increasingly worried about the lengthening lead times and the impending cut-off date, factors that are forcing them to rethink their order.

And it’s unlikely they’ll receive any assistance from the Government, given the odds of the FBT exemption cut-off being revised or extended are almost non-existent, thereby threatening the financial viability of not only the Shark 6 but all sub-Luxury Car Tax PHEVs.

However, while novated leases are understood to comprise a large portion of the Shark 6 order bank, Smitherman isn’t worried about a potential exodus of orders in the lead-up to April.

“To date, Shark 6 has one of the lowest cancellation rates in our range,” he told carsales, when asked directly if BYD was worried about losing sales due to the delays and looming FBT exemption cut-off.

“This data suggests there is no cause for concern.”

Working in the Shark 6’s favour here is its identity as the first PHEV pickup to be launched in Australia and, more importantly, its $55,900 plus on-road costs sticker price. The latter makes it significantly cheaper to purchase outright than a similarly specified Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-MAX or Mitsubishi Triton, which are all yet to offer an electrified powertrain in Australia.

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