Sales of the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 ute are in retreat around the world, as Chinese-sourced figures reveal declining export sales.

Over the first six months of 2026, Car News China reports that export volumes have dropped by 25.76 per cent compared to the same time in 2025, with sales momentum starting to slow from the second half of last year.

The figures, obtained by specialist analysts Xiaodi Express, reveal that BYD exported 20,037 Shark 6s in the first half of this year, compared to 26,988 in the first six months of 2025. Of those vehicles, almost half were sold in Australia, with the FCAI reporting 9493 as sold in Australia this year.

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To counter the slide, BYD is preparing to launch the Shark 6 domestically in China, with the model initially focused on markets like Australia, Mexico, South America, South Africa, and the Middle East.

BYD’s declining export figures are the result of increasing competition from rival plug-in hybrid utes like the Ford Ranger and GWM Cannon Alpha, along with a steady flow of new, low-price models from brands like Changan, Foton, Geely, JAC, JMC, and LDV in global markets.

The Shark 6 is set to face further competition with Chery about to launch its own PHEV ute, the first with a diesel-based PHEV drivetrain, and other Chinese brands developing dual-cab utes from their large SUV platforms as Chinese automakers look to high-margin, export-driven product lines.

In Australia, sales volumes for the Shark 6 declined by 8.9 per cent, with 9493 sales this year compared to 10,424 over the first six months of 2025. A massive push saw BYD deliver 3398 units in June alone.

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To maintain momentum, BYD has broadened the Shark 6 line-up from a single-specification model. A cheaper cab-chassis model and a more powerful Shark 6 Performance, with increased 3.5-tonne towing, have been added to the range this year to capture a wider audience. 

Despite the new additions, sales figures for the Shark 6 match overall industry volumes, with Australia’s 4×4 ute segment down 11.1 per cent for the first six months of the year. Models like the new-generation Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara posted lower volumes than in 2025, and all but two of the 17 models in the 4×4 ute category, with year-on-year comparative data, posted lower year-to-date sales in 2026.