BYD's First Electric Pickup Revealed in Leaks, Set for Global Launch This Year

Leaked images hint at BYD's inaugural electric pickup model, poised to disrupt the global EV market by the end of 2024. The anticipated mid- to full-size truck marks BYD's latest venture into a rapidly growing sector.

BYD Gears Up to Launch Its First All-Electric Pickup in Global Markets

New images show what appears to be Build Your Dreams' first all-electric pickup model. The camouflaged images show a mid- to full-size truck expected to hit EV markets worldwide before the end of 2024, as per The Electrek.

BYD is a global EV automaker based in China, growing in popularity in a rapidly expanding market. The automaker briefly held the global lead in EV sales volume through the end of 2023, dethroning Tesla, before the American automaker reclaimed the throne following a difficult first quarter for BYD.

In 2024, BYD expects to have a 50% market share of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in China within the next three months, launch several new models under its namesake and sub-brands, begin production in Thailand, and expand its sales reach across Europe.

A new all-electric BYD pickup truck appears to be nearing production and could arrive as early as this year. It will be making its way to new markets both inside and outside of China.

BYD Sets Sights on Global Electric Pickup Market with Upcoming Launch

The images were obtained by CnEVPost, which also revealed that BYD plans to launch its first electric pickup model this year and sell it globally. According to the post, a source familiar with the EV's development described the pickup as mid- to full-size, slightly larger than Toyota's recently unveiled electric Hilux truck.

Today's images are the latest visual chapter in a two-year saga about a possible BYD brand electric pickup. The saga began circulating on Chinese social media in 2022 after leaked road-testing images.

At the time, social media speculated that the pickup would debut under BYD's upcoming "F Brand," later known as Formula Bao. However, because pickup trucks are classified as light trucks in China, they face several restrictions that passenger EVs do not. This could be a major reason why BYD has yet to release an electric pickup in China, as well as evidence that the company intends to sell the new large EV in other markets when it does.

Given the automaker's success with dozens of EV models across its brands, a pickup truck seems like a logical next step in covering all global vehicle segments. We'll watch this one as it progresses and the details solidify.

Photo: P. L./Unsplash