2024 BYD Ute: Everything we know about the plug-in hybrid pickup

Nobody could've guessed it even two years ago, but Chinese brand BYD's upcoming ute is probably one of the most anticipated new models coming to Australia.

Here's everything we know so far about the latest Chinese ute to reach Australia, expected to debut sometime in 2024.

With combined petrol and electric power, BYD is said to be targeting a 1000km-plus driving range. Those that want a more pure electrified ute will be served later, with an all-electric version to follow in late 2025 or early 2026.

JUMP AHEAD

• April 2024: BYD ute teased!
• December: BYD PHEV ute spied in Oz!
• November: BYD Ute imagined
• October: BYD Ute leaked
• September 2023: BYD Ute confirmed for Oz

April 2024: BYD ute teased!

We've seen revealing patent images and a prototype testing in Australia, but now the BYD Ute is a little more official, thanks to a set of teaser photos released today.

Get all the details at the featured story linked below. 👇

December: BYD PHEV ute spied in Australia!

The 2025 BYD plug-in hybrid ute has been snapped testing on an Australian freeway ahead of its local launch in 2024.

Pictures posted to social media show a left-hand-drive prototype of the as-yet-unnamed Chinese dual-cab petrol-electric ute wrapped in camouflage ahead of its global reveal in the coming months.

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November 17: BYD Ute imagined

Thanks to those earlier patent images, we've been able to produce a pair of accurate (albeit still speculative) renderings for the upcoming 2024 BYD Ute.

Check them out below, and tell us what you think about the look! You can continue reading our evolving story further down.

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2024 BYD ute, imagined by Theottle | © Wheels Media

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2024 BYD ute, imagined by Theottle | © Wheels Media

RELATED: All the new BYD models to watch for

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October 16: BYD Ute revealed in patent images

This is our best look ute at the 2024 BYD ute yet.

Following spy pictures and a confirmation that BYD will subject its ute to a local development program, patent images of the Chinese ute have been unearthed by CarNewsChina [↗].

The monotone images show the ute's proportions in its entirety, and confirm it will wear BYD badging rather than the carmaker's outdoorsy YangWang and Fang Cheng Bao spin-off brands.

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The ute itself seems to follow similar design sensibilities to GWM's Americana-style Ute Cannon range.

It has broad flared arches and with a long wheelbase and bed, presents at the larger end of the Australian pick-up scale. Think closer to the new Ford Ranger than the Mitsubishi Triton.

There's also that bold front grille with 'BYD' stamping proudly declaring the vehicle's maker. The blacked-out A-Pillar and laid-back windscreen are particularly sporty for this type of vehicle, perhaps inspired by chief designer Wolfgang Egger's history at Audi.

Keeping things luxurious, the top-down view reveals a sunroof. It wouldn't be entirely unique to BYD, but it does demonstrate the market the brand is targeting with this vehicle.

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Chinese insiders confirm the ute will launch overseas in the fourth quarter of this year though exact powertrain details are still unconfirmed.

Initially, though, the Ute will launch with an undetermined plug-in hybrid system – potentially beating the Ford Ranger PHEV to the punch – with a battery EV version to follow.

BYD has said the ute will fall under its 'Ocean Series' of vehicles that are already here in Australia as the Seal and Dolphin. The Ocean Series vehicles that are fully electric take animal monikers, while plug-in hybrids are named after vessels.

The Frigate, for example, is a plug-in hybrid medium SUV and the Landing Ship is a PHEV people-mover. As BYD will offer the ute with both powertrains, there are all manner of nautical nomenclatures possible – stay tuned for confirmation later this year.

Our original story, below, continues unchanged

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September 2023: BYD Ute confirmed for Australian release following local testing

Ahead of an Australian release in 2024, BYD’s first-ever ute will be subject to testing and evaluation down under.

“In our 2024 lineup, we have a larger SUV and a pick-up, which we're very excited about”, EV Direct CEO Luke Todd told 4X4 Australia. He also revealed the ute will undergo Australian evaluation before it hits dealerships.

BYD’s electrified ute is yet to be revealed – even in its China home market –but the big, brash pick-up has been spied several times in camouflage [↗]. Reminiscent of American ute design (we see a hint of Ford F-150 in that fascia) the new BYD is likely to compete with one-tonne models such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

The successful launches we've had so far with products that people didn't anticipate would go very well suggests we might shock a few people with the ute

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The BYD ute spied testing in China | image CarNewsChina

Unlike other Chinese marques with separate commercial and passenger brands (such as GWM and SAIC’s LDV), it seems the ute will proudly wear BYD badging. A glimpse inside shows plenty of digital screens where pick-ups have typically had analogue dials.

As for the model name, theories are scarce. BYD's working codename is 'F pick-up', according to CarNewsChina, though that won't fly in markets where Ford sells its F-Trucks. The BYD Whale perhaps? It'll all be confirmed in 2024.

There are rumours of both battery electric and plug-in hybrid options to cover all bases, though BYD Australia importer EV Direct is yet to confirm details.

“We've been very embedded in the engineering, relationship and partnership with BYD… we had a couple of week-long workshops with the BYD engineers who are designing and building the ute”, said Luke.

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BYD's Australian arm has seen and driven the ute | image CarNewsChina

“We did that in China, we drove the ute and had great fun, but also did all the pressure testing and came away with a whole range of enhancements to make the ute the best it can be and the most attractive for the Australian market.

“We’ve been with BYD engineers in Australia on a research project looking at the conditions more in depth of Australia and what people are looking for in a ute”, Todd added.

It’s not unusual for ute manufacturers to come here to refine their vehicles. Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Toyota are a few manufacturers who engage with Australia in development, while Ford had an even more full-on design and engineering program in Australia for its class-best Ranger ute.

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A glimpse inside BYD's ute | image CarNewsChina

Aside from being one of the largest markets for utes outside the United States, Thailand and South Africa, Australia also has unique demands for these vehicles.

They’re used not just on worksites but as daily family transportation and lifestyle products – utes have some of the broadest demands of all new vehicles.

“I can confirm the feedback from the partnership and communication of what Australian consumers are looking for was extremely detailed. We’re talking an immense amount of data sharing of what consumers want for Australia and a lot of those inputs are being implemented into the ute… It is very much a co-designed vehicle for the Australian market.”

The only electric ute on sale in Australia is the LDV eT60, a $92,990 rear-wheel drive battery vehicle with big business fleets in mind. There are various small businesses converting Toyota HiLuxes and Ford Rangers to EVs for mining operations but little for the private buyer.

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The rear end of BYD's ute in China | image CarNewsChina

Mitsubishi is weighing up options for its new Triton – whether PHEV, EV or HEV works – and LDV has promised a new-gen 4x4 pick-up next year. If BYD’s timeline and capability claims are to be believed, its ute could be the first electric one to resonate with both public and private buyers – that’s certainly what Luke Todd thinks.

“It's the best of both worlds”, he said, adding “Obviously, consumers and fleets will make their own judgement but I'm very confident that we’re on the money. And the successful launches we've had so far with products that people didn't anticipate would go very well suggests we might shock a few people with the ute.”

Accompanying the ute is allegedly a platform-sharing large SUV, though Todd did not comment on what would be a Ford Everest and Toyota Prado rival in discussions with 4X4 Australia.

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