BYD Shark 6 Sale In Thailand Cancelled Due To Low Demands

In a surprising development, BYD has reportedly scrapped plans to sell its BYD Shark (the Shark 6) electrified pick-up truck in neighbouring Thailand.

Despite much hype, fanfare, plus promises of better performance and capabilities through added electrification, it seems the BYD Shark (also known as the BYD Shark 6) is not proving to be a big hit in the Land of Smiles.

Earlier this week, Thai sources online report that Chinese NEV-making giants BYD have scrapped plans to launch said electrified pick-up truck offering there – a vehicle the firm had hoped to chart success with, especially given the Kingdom’s love for pick-up trucks.

The cancellation stems from a very basic reason – low demand. The same online source reported that since order books opened back in March this year, just 134 orders were placed – way less than the 500 bookings the Chinese marque had hoped for at least.

The reasons behind the model's cancelled entry into Thailand are simple and basic, those being low demands for it prompted by its expensive price tag.

As a refresher, the BYD Shark 6 debuted globally back in May last year, generating much fanfare in key markets like Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, as well as select markets in Asia like Thailand – market spaces where mid-sized pick-up trucks arguably thrive.

Regionally, the model already went on sale in Cambodia first where it launched in Oct last year. Given said market’s left-hand-drive (LHD) status, it was easy to see how BYD quickly adapted the Chinese market model for that market.

After which, the BYD Shark 6 was previewed during the Thai Motor Expo 2024 in Dec last year. It was then showcased again during the Bangkok International Motor Show 2025 (BIMS 2025) back in March this year where order books also finally opened.

The BYD Shark 6 previewed in Thailand for the first time late last year during the Thai Motor Expo 2025. (Pic: ThinkerCar)

Whilst NOT a fully-electrified offering like its popular stablemates the Atto 2, Atto 3, Seal or Sealion 7, the Shark (Shark 6) instead adopts a highly efficiency plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain setup underneath its stylishly rugged looks.

It consists of a 1.4-litre 4-cyl petrol mill working in tandem with a rear e-motor and 29.58 kWh iteration of BYD’s signature ‘Blade’ LFP battery pack. Altogether, the setup puts out 436 PS and 650 NM, boasting up to 100 KM of electric-only range too.

Mechanically, the BYD Shark 6 packs a highly efficiency plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup instead of an all-electric system seen in its popular stablemates (i.e. Atto 2, Atto 3, Seal and Sealion 7).

And before you speculate further, just know that the low demand for the BYD Shark 6 in Thailand also stems from another very basic reason – it’s expensive. Perhaps it stood a little too pricey for many of the Kingdom’s typical pick-up truck buyers.

We’ll also add that the model’s status as a fully imported (CBU) offering made in China didn’t help. As a result of which, BYD Auto (Thailand) couldn’t price the BYD Shark 6 lower than the estimated THB1,699,900 (approx. RM221,912) figure it set in March.

When orders finally opened in Thailand back in March this year, the BYD Shark 6 commanded an estimated figure of THB1,699,900 (RM221,912) - significantly more than its un-electrified rivals.

Included in said price is a steep 30% tax rate levied by the Thai government on fully imported (CBU) vehicles.

Said figure certainly stands higher than the typically popular local Thai-made (CKD) Japanese makes like the Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux. It’s also pricier than ‘premium’ fighters in this space like the Ford Ranger which, mind you, is also CKD in the Kingdom.

Furthermore, in a recent interview, BYD Auto (Thailand) GM Ke Yubin said that the NEV-making giant will instead choose another pick-up truck model for local production at its Thai plant.  This will reportedly happen sometime next year (2026).