BYD is planning to add a second ute to its range, and it looks to be smaller and more car-like than the existing Shark 6.
These photos were posted by Chinese website AutoHome, and were taken in South America. While the existing Shark 6 is 5.45m long, the ‘Baby Shark’ is definitely shorter and looks to be around five metres long or shorter.
The new model also eschews the Shark 6’s traditional body-on-frame construction for a unitary or monocoque chassis that’s typical of passenger cars. Indeed, the smaller ute seems to feature double-wishbone suspension.
Likely due to its car-based origins, the smaller Shark’s styling up front is more closely aligned with the Atto 3 electric SUV than the Shark 6 ute.
From earlier patent images, it looks as though the Baby Shark is based on the Song Plus, a pre-facelift version of the SUV we know as the Sealion 6. The Baby Shark and Song Plus seem to be almost identical up to the B-pillar.
Behind this point, the styling of the Baby Shark takes a turn towards the Shark 6, especially with the design of the tub and tail-lights.
These spy images of the Baby Shark’s interior confirm our earlier assessment. Despite coverings obscuring much of the interior, the vents, centre tunnel, steering wheel, instrument binnacle and touchscreen look to be taken straight from the Sealion 6.
In South America there’s a very healthy market for passenger car-based utes stretching back to the 1980s. While early models were two-door vehicles based on small, Volkswagen Polo-sized vehicles, size inflation has crept in over the past decade and dual-cab models are now the norm.
Popular models include the Chevrolet Montana (4.7m), Renault Oroch (4.7m), Fiat Toro (4.9m) and Ram Rampage (5.0m). Only the ancient extended-cab Volkswagen Saveiro squeaks in under 4.5m.
The presence of an exhaust indicates the Baby Shark will have a plug-in hybrid system rather than a pure-electric drivetrain
It will be interesting to see how competitively the new ute will be priced, especially as none of its local competitors have adopted electrification. The majority use naturally-aspirated engines capable of running on petrol or a biofuel mix.
The Baby Shark will probably be made in Brazil in order to avoid tariffs. In 2021 Ford switched to full importer status, and closed its factory in Brazil’s Bahia state, which was subsequently bought by BYD.
The factory finally re-opened in October, with the plant’s recommissioning delayed due to a police raid in late 2024 when Brazilian authorities claim to have rescued 163 Chinese nationals from “slave-like” conditions.
There’s no word yet whether BYD will offer the Baby Shark outside of Latin America, but the earlier patent leak came from Europe. If it were to be sold in Australia, it would be a unique offering given its monocoque construction, smaller size and plug-in hybrid drivetrain.