BYD Shark 6 is the most Googled ute on the market

New data has shown the BYD Shark 6 to be the most frequently Googled ute in Australia, however carsales’ own figures paint a very different picture when it comes to classifieds searches. 

According to a new study by OCAM 4x4 Accessories, the Shark 6 was Googled more than 1.78 million times over the past 12 months in Australia – well clear of the Toyota HiLux (1.67m), Kia Tasman (1.61m), Ford Ranger (1.13m) and Mazda BT-50 (1.03m). 

OCAM even went so far as to call it “the nation’s most sought-after ute”, however carsales’ own classifieds data tell a rather different story, one where the Shark 6 is barely a blip on the radar of the legacy giants. 

For instance, BYD’s headline-grabbing plug-in ute was searched for on carsales 160,583 times last month, whereas the Toyota HiLux was searched for more than 1.62 million times and the Ford Ranger 1.44 million times. 

Even removing the fleet heroes from the equation, the Shark 6 was out-searched by every single one of the heavyweight legacy offerings (Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, VW Amarok and Toyota LandCruiser). 

That’s been the trend of 2026 as it turns out, even in March when fuel prices went berserk and listing searches for the Shark were at their peak of 243,402 – the same month Google searches spiked to more than 200,000 (the most of any ute on the market). 

Credit where it’s due, the Shark 6 is by far and away to most sought-after of the Chinese utes in consistently being searched for on carsales more than twice as much as any of its compatriots. 

In fact, it averaged 21,587 more searches per month?than the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha combined over the first half of 2026. 

\It’s also clear a lot more of these listing searches are translating into sales for BYD seeing as the Shark 6 is the third-best-selling 4x4 ute so far this year ending June, narrowly pipping the Isuzu D-MAX (9493 vs 9412) and trailing only the aforementioned Ranger (24,882) and HiLux (19,862) fleet champions. 

The Shark 6’s search engine hype and sales success is representative of wider market trends which have China poised to permanently become our biggest supplier of new vehicles. 

Japan is clinging on to top spot for now – largely thanks to Toyota – but the writing’s on the wall. 

“Buyers feel they’re getting a lot of vehicle for their money: features they want, modern technology and long warranty coverage,” OCAM director Peter Gorgievski said, especially in the realm of 4x4s. 

“For many, the price difference compared to some of the more established brands is significant enough to make them take a serious look. 

“From what we’re seeing, the conversation is shifting away from where a vehicle is built and towards whether it delivers the capability, value and reliability Australian owners expect.” 

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