BYD readies smaller Shark ute for South America – and possibly beyond
BYD is preparing to expand its ute lineup, with a second, smaller pickup spotted testing in South America. Positioned beneath the Shark 6, the new model, widely referred to as the “Baby Shark”, adopts more car-like proportions and a unibody platform, putting it squarely in competition with compact South American regional favourites such as the Fiat Toro, Chevrolet Montana and Ram Rampage. The smaller ute had previously surfaced in patent applications too.
Read more – BYD has another ute in the works
The yet-to-be-named ute was photographed in South America, with images posted by Chinese site AutoHome. It is seen wearing blue camouflage during local road testing, revealing a markedly softer, crossover-inspired design more inline with the Sealion 6. The front end aligns with BYD’s earlier ‘Dragon Face’ models, while the overall footprint appears to sit around the five-metre mark, making it significantly shorter than the 5.45m Shark.
Under the skin, the Baby Shark trades the Shark 6’s body-on-frame layout for a monocoque setup derived from BYD’s Song Plus, the pre-facelift SUV sold here as the Sealion 6. From the B-pillar forward, the ute appears almost identical to the Song Plus, while the rear tub and tail-lights echo the design language of its bigger sibling.
Interior spy shots back up the shared DNA. Much of the cabin, including the steering wheel, vents, touchscreen and centre console, appears lifted directly from the Sealion 6. Materials and overall execution suggest the newcomer will be priced well below the Shark, reflecting BYD’s push for affordability in this segment.
Unlike the plug-in hybrid Shark, which pairs a 1.5-litre engine with twin electric motors for a combined 430hp (321kW), the Baby Shark is expected to run simpler hardware. An exhaust pipe on the prototype confirms combustion power, with BYD likely to offer petrol or ethanol-compatible engines, possibly alongside a lower-cost hybrid.
South America’s long-established market for compact, passenger-car-based pickups makes the region a natural fit for the new model. BYD is expected to manufacture the Baby Shark in Brazil at the former Ford plant it acquired and reopened in late 2024, avoiding steep import tariffs.
Whether the ute will be offered outside Latin America remains unclear, though leaked patents originating in Europe suggest BYD isn’t ruling out a broader rollout. If it were to reach markets like Australia or New Zealand, its monocoque construction, compact size and electrified option would make it a unique player in the ute landscape.
