There are further rumours of an impending BYD electric (and potentially plug-in hybrid) ute, with a camouflaged test vehicle doing the rounds on various Chinese media sites.
The snapped vehicle shapes up as a potential competitor to the Geely Radar RD6, which is under consideration for Australia, plus the just-launched LDV eT60 – showing China’s early lead in EV utes as the established players gear up.
Rapidly expanding ‘new energy vehicle’ brand BYD is expanding at pace, rolling out its EVs in Europe, Japan, and Australia – where its Atto 3 small SUV is selling in strong numbers after a few launch speed bumps.
In fact, the Warren Buffett-backed EV and battery supplier just eclipsed three million EV and PHEV sales globally, as announced last week.
Speculation suggests the BYD pickup might be sold under one of the company’s recently announced planned sub-brands.
BYD Auto wants to create a “powerful brand matrix” comprising BYD-branded cars, premium spinoff Denza, a luxury SUV-focused brand called Yangwang, and “another new brand”.
Radar RD6
This additional new brand will cryptically specialise in “professional and personalised identities, covering family cars and luxury cars”.
“The brand will harness the co-creation with users and warmly welcome all the franchised dealerships to join BYD for its promotion,” it added, suggesting cars with higher degrees of personalisation.
That seems to fit what pickup buyers want, plus BYD’s in-house ‘Blade’ LFP batteries are designed to handle a nail test without thermal runaway, which might make them particularly suitable in a workhorse.
We’ll bring you more once we learn more…
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