Hybrid bakkie monster taking on Toyota and Ford in South Africa

Chinese automotive giant BYD is launching a new plug-in hybrid electric bakkie in South Africa that could prove to be a massive disruptor to Toyota and Ford’s dominance in this segment.

When the BYD Shark rolls out in the country in 2025, it will be the most powerful and fastest bakkie on the market.

While the Shark has a very modest 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine providing 135kW of power, it is paired with dual electric motors — one on the front axle with 170kW output and another on the rear axle with 150kW.

That gives it a combined 320kW of output and 650Nm torque, making the Shark capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100km/h in a blistering 5.8 seconds. For reference, the Golf GTI 2.0-litre TSI achieves the same in 6.4 seconds.

The Shark also has a high-voltage 29.58kWh electric battery that can support up to 100km of driving range on a single charge.

Like all other BYD models currently sold in South Africa, the Shark also boasts vehicle-to-load (V2L), allowing users to power various appliances directly from the vehicle using an adapter.

This could be particularly advantageous to bakkie owners who frequently camp in bushveld areas without electricity or work in deeply rural areas where they might need to use tools like grinders, electric saws, and drills.

These features might sound fantastic, but the big question mark in how compelling the Shark will be when it lands locally is its price tag.

While South African pricing remains to be officially confirmed, local sources with knowledge of BYD’s launch plans have given an indicative price of around R750,000.

While that price point may seem a bit ambitious, it is in line with pricing in other right-hand drive markets with similar tastes in bakkies as South Africa.

In Australia, the BYD Shark is priced at AU$57,900 (R668,351) and in New Zealand, its price tag is NZ$69,990 (R732,132).

Another BYD model already sold in South Africa — the fully-electric Dolphin hatchback — is priced at R539,990 compared with A$38,890 (R450,133) in Australia.

That price difference is similar to the gap between the confirmed pricing for the Shark in Australia and the estimated price tag in South Africa. Therefore, the indicative price seems within the realm of possibility.

Below are images of the BYD Shark’s exterior and interior.

Toyota and Ford could be hearing the Jaws music

At R750,000, the Shark will be eating competing models from Toyota and Ford for lunch in terms of value.

The two brands offer a wide range of Hilux and Ranger models with prices starting from around R500,000 and going well over R1.2 million.

These models regularly feature in the top five best-selling cars in the country.

For example, in October 2024, the Hilux sold 2,793 vehicles to top the sales charts, while the Ranger amassed 2,217 sales, the third-highest of any model line.

All of the current Shark models have 4×4 and an automatic gearbox as standard, the company does not offer cheaper single-cab, two-wheel drive, or manual models.

That means the Shark will not compete at the lower end, where sales volumes might be greater due to demand for workhorse bakkies.

However, it could prove very attractive in the mid-range and higher-end bakkie segments.

The most powerful and fastest bakkie in South Africa at the moment is the Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0T V6, which produces 292kW and 583Nm torque.

Those are lower power figures than the Shark offers.

It also accelerates from 0km/h to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds, around two seconds slower than the Shark.

In addition to lacking a high-voltage battery for all-electric travel and V2L, the Raptor is also priced at over R1.2 million.

The most affordable Ford Ranger double-cab with 4×4 and an automatic gearbox is priced from R688,800. It puts out 125kW and 405Nm of torque with acceleration from a standstill to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

Toyota does not really offer a high-performance Hilux, with the most powerful 2.8GD-6 double cab Legend RS model having just 150kW power and 500Nm torque.

While the latter sounds high, it comes from a diesel engine, which does not deliver the same punch per Nm as a petrol engine. As a result of its lower-power diesel engine, the Hilux takes 10 seconds to accelerate from 0km/h to 100km/h.

It also costs over R1.02 million, substantially more than the expected price of the Shark.

The one advantage that the Hilux offers is better towing capacity — at 3,500kg compared with the Shark and Ranger Raptor’s 2,500kg.

Nonetheless, 2,500kg will likely be more than enough for most bakkie owners.

The table below compares the specifications and pricing of the BYD Shark with entry-level and top-end double-cab 4×4 models from Ford and Toyota in South Africa.