Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD plans to launch its first-ever electric pickup truck for the global market as early as this year in its latest challenge to the likes of Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning.
BYD’s upcoming electric truck
Local news outlet CnEVPost shared the leaked camouflaged photos of the new BYD electric pickup in its recent report. It claimed to have learned that the Chinese automaker aims to introduce the new model this year for the global market.
As you can see in the photos attached to the X post above, the BYD electric pickup sports a blue and orange camouflage, making it challenging to discern the actual design. Nonetheless, it is apparent that the model has a squared-off, muscular build that most truck enthusiasts will love. Interestingly, it seems to feature a conventional body-on-frame configuration that separates the bed from the cab.
In contrast, other electric truck makers employ unibody construction. It is apparently a better option for packaging, but it lowers the vehicle’s load and towing capacity.
Moreover, the report also shared that a source close to the development described the electric pickup as mid- to full-size, slightly larger than the upcoming electric Toyota Hilux.
BYD lost its EV crown in Q1 2024
BYD advanced as the top-selling electric vehicle brand in the world in the fourth quarter of 2023, owing to its major price cuts and aggressive expansion push. However, it lost its leading position in the first quarter of 2024.
For context, BYD sold a total of 300,114 EVs in Q1 2024, up 13 YoY. In contrast, Tesla’s EV sales reached 386,810 units in the same period. While it indicates an 8.5% YoY decline, it was still enough to reclaim its crown from BYD.
Timeline
BYD reportedly confirmed that its first all-electric pickup model will debut sometime this year. However, it has yet to reveal more information, including its specific pricing, production start, available drivetrains, and markets.
Notably, BYD currently has no presence in the United States, which is the most popular market for pickup trucks. Nonetheless, it already penetrated other key markets for such a vehicle type, including Thailand, Australia, and South Africa.
The new BYD e-pickup will compete with the likes of the popular Ford Ranger, F-150 Lightning, Toyota Hilux, and Tesla Cybertruck. Considering BYD’s major success across its multiple brands, a new pickup truck model launch is no longer surprising for the company to penetrate all market segments globally.
