BYD is expanding the lineup of its Shark 6 plug in hybrid in Australia by bringing in two additional variants, including a fleet-friendly cab-chassis version, and a Performance variant which can now officially tow over 3.5 tonnes.
The Shark 6 also includes the company’s latest Dual Mode (DM) off-road super hybrid performance and improved all-wheel drive (AWD) capability, along with more on-road comfort levels not seen in the ute segment.
The ute was launched in late 2024, at an excellent starting price of $57,990 before on-road costs, and it raked in over 4,000 orders within weeks of official launch.
“The BYD Shark 6 has redefined what Australians can expect from a modern ute,” BYD Australia’s COO, Stephen Collins, said in a statement.
“By expanding to three distinct models, we’re giving customers more choice without compromise – whether it’s a Super Hybrid that is a capable workhorse, a family all-rounder, or made for serious towing and performance.”
The price for the new Shark 6 lineup – before on road costs – now comes in at:
- Dynamic cab-chassis – $55,900
- Premium – $57,900 (existing variant)
- Performance – $62,900
The cab-chassis will be able to get a heavy-duty alloy tray, which is engineered and developed in partnership with aftermarket specialist Ironman, who were also involved with the development of key accessories when the Shark 6 was officially launched back in 2024. This tray will be available as an option for $5,000 and can be fitted for an additional $1,155.
For that, it comes with eight integrated tie-down points and two lockable tool boxes, making it easier for tradies to store tools and equipment when on the go.
According to the brand, it has been engineered and tested to meet the needs of harsh Australian outdoor conditions, including vibration, prolonged UV exposure, salt spray and corrosion.
The Performance variant has a more powerful drivetrain that comes with a new 2.0-litre turbo DM super hybrid, bringing the total system power and torque to 350 kW and 700 Nm, respectively.
That’s enough to get the top-spec variant from 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds. According to BYD, this variant will deliver fuel consumption as low as 1.3 L/100 Km when the ute’s state of charge (SOC) is greater than 25%, according to the WLTP combined test cycle.
The new variants also include a newly developed Crawl Mode, which debuts on the Shark 6 Performance.
This adds to the vehicle’s off-road credentials beyond the existing Mountain Mode, which controls traction and braking performance on moderate slopes and uneven terrain. It’s designed for tough terrain, including rocks, steep climbs, and deep ruts.
When activated, Crawl Mode will limit the Shark 6 speed to a maximum of 12 km/h and continuously adjust torque to the wheels so that they keep moving without slipping, significantly improving traction.
This mode will also be making its way to existing Shark 6 Premium and future Shark 6 Dynamic customers with an over-the-air (OTA) update later in the year.
As mentioned above, the Shark 6 Performance will bring 3.5-tonne braked towing capability and comes with an increased 6,650 kg Gross Combination Mass (GCM).
The Performance variant delivers a maximum front axle load of 1,700 kg along with a rear axle load limit of 1,900 kg. It also has a class-leading 350 kg tow ball download rating, providing better stability and confidence when towing heavy caravans, boats or larger trailers.
The Shark 6 comes with an EV-only mode rated at around 100 km, though probably closer to 80 km in real-world use, from its 29.56 kWh battery, which is enough for most daily commutes without using any fuel at all in EV mode.
With the existing Shark 6 already a success, the new variants will only help its sales grow across different segments of the ute market, prompting legacy models like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger to offer hybrid and electric powertrains in the future.
The first version of the Shark 6, which still exists as the Premium variant, had great performance features, towing capacity, and vehicle-to-load power to power a tradie’s tools.
It’s clearly won tens of thousands of Aussie drivers over, including existing EV owners, thanks to its EV-only range, ride comfort, practicality and an overall range of up to 800 km.
We look forward to getting behind the wheel of the updated Shark 6 to see what it’s like on the terrain, on and off-road.
See The Driven’s detailed EV sales data here: Australian electric vehicle sales by month in 2026; by model and by brand.
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Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.