√China’s BYD to introduce electric ute in Australia 2024
Chinese electric-car specialist BYD says it plans to introduce an alternative to Australia’s top-selling diesel utes with a new battery-powered dual-cab, due next year.
Chinese electric-car specialist BYD has outlined plans to introduce an electric dual-cab ute to Australian showrooms next year.
The new BYD ute is expected to be a similar size to the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger diesel dual-cabs, and will be among the first electric utes on sale in Australia, following the introduction of the LDV eT60 late last year.
The managing director of BYD’s local distributor EVDirect, Luke Todd, told Drive the new ute is due in Australian showrooms in 2024 – pending any delays.
Few details of the new model have emerged – including its name, driving range, towing and payload ratings, and price.
MORE: BYD electric ute spied in China
Only one photo of the BYD ute is believed to have emerged, a blurry low-resolution spy photo showing traditional dual-cab proportions, bold styling with flared wheel arches, and a charging port above the rear-left wheel.
It is unclear if the ute will be underpinned by a ladder-frame chassis as with Australia’s top-selling diesel dual-cabs – and the LDV eT60, which is based on the diesel LDV T60 – or a car-derived single-body architecture, shared with family SUVs and hatchbacks in BYD showrooms today.
Car-like construction has been adopted by what would be one of the BYD ute’s biggest rivals in its home market, the Radar RD6 from Chinese car giant Geely – parent company of Volvo, Polestar and Lotus.
However the spy photo appears to show the BYD ute’s cabin is separate from the tray, which indicates a heavy-duty body-on-frame design.
No mechanical details are available for the BYD ute, however it is likely to use the company’s ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Mr Todd told Drive it was too early to comment on potential pricing for Australia – and whether the BYD would be cheaper or dearer than the $92,990 plus on-road costs of the LDV eT60.
Chinese-car specialist website ChinaPEV speculates it may be priced between 400,000 and 600,000 yuan in its home market – which, if accurate, would translate to a price in Australia in excess of $120,000 drive-away.
Unverified reports in China claim the vehicle may be sold under a new brand name – alongside the master BYD marque and its YangWang luxury division – but these are yet to be confirmed.
Chinese reports also claim plug-in hybrid and electric versions of the new ute are in development – but it is likely only the electric version would come to Australia, as BYD does not (and has not announced plans to) sell a hybrid car locally.
The post China’s BYD to introduce electric ute in Australia 2024 appeared first on Drive.
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