BYD Shark 5 compact ute goes global

As the BYD Shark 6 continues to sell strongly in Australia and abroad, the fast-growing Chinese brand is set to expand its pick-up truck portfolio with a smaller sibling – the BYD Shark 5 – which now appears destined for global markets.

The compact BYD ute was first spotted in China back in May 2025. Now, fresh patent images lodged with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) indicate that the new BYD Shark 5 is likely to join its larger Shark 6 sibling in a range of international markets.

First published by CarNewsChina, the European filing doesn’t just reveal the ute’s design details – it signals BYD’s intent to sell the vehicle in key export markets. That means the new Shark 5 (official name still to be confirmed) will likely be sold across Europe, Australia, Mexico, and several Latin American countries, mirroring the Shark 6’s global rollout.

Despite its export success, the larger Shark 6 is not yet sold in China.

BYD is expected to launch a more powerful version of the Shark 6 in 2026, featuring heavy-duty underpinnings and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

A tougher Shark 6 Meg off-road variant is also rumoured. Plans for larger Shark 7 or Shark 8 models are also reportedly in motion to challenge full-size utes such as, the Ford F-150 and RAM 1500.

The Shark 5 is expected to be similar in size to other compact, car-based utes such as the Geely Riddara RD6, which has been priced from $NZ69,990 ($A63,300) ahead of launch in New Zealand. Comparable rivals like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are of similar size but not currently sold in Australia.

While the Shark 6 uses a potent plug-in hybrid setup (321kW/650Nm), the Shark 5 is expected to adopt a smaller-capacity platform and a less powerful PHEV system – likely producing around 160kW/300Nm, with roughly 90km of pure-electric driving range for base grade versions.

Higher-spec versions could push beyond 200kW.

European patent images also reveal both a charging port and a conventional fuel filler, confirming the new ute will indeed use plug-in hybrid power.

BYD has yet to officially confirm the existence of the Shark 5, and details around its specifications, variants, and pricing remain under wraps. However, the EU filing makes one thing clear: BYD’s global expansion – and its ambitions in the light commercial segment – show no signs of slowing down.

Through the first nine months of 2025, the BYD Shark 6 has become Australia’s fourth best-selling ute, trailing only the Isuzu D-MAX, Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. The Shark 6 has notched up 14,111 sales (8.7 per cent market share) so far this year, making it BYD’s top-selling model locally.

The Sealion 7 (8483 sales) and Sealion 6 (6793 sales) follow closely behind. BYD is aiming to become one of Australia’s top-selling car brands, with a wave of new models arriving later in 2025 and into 2026. That includes the launch of its premium sub-brand, Denza, which will rival Lexus and debut with two highly anticipated models: the B5 and B8.

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