Tesla’s Main Rival BYD To Debut Its First Electric Pickup Truck This Year

Chinese automobile giant BYD plans to bring its first electric pickup truck to the global market this year to compete with rivals such as Ford and Tesla.

According to a press release by BYD, the truck has been developed to cater to markets across the globe and is mid-to-large in size. The Chinese carmaker showcased images of the truck cloaked in orange and blue camouflage, keeping the interior of the vehicle a mystery. The sale price of the vehicle has not been revealed yet.

The pickup aims to rival competitors such as the Ford Ranger and F-150 Lightning, the Toyota Hilux, and its biggest rival, the Tesla Cybertruck.

Even though BYD vehicles are not sold in the U.S., the carmaker has been putting efforts behind markets in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America, where pickups are highly sought after.

For example, Ford’s Ranger, Toyota’s Hilux, and Isuzu’s D-Max pickups rank as the top three best-selling vehicles in Australia. Last month Isuzu launched an electric variation of the D-Max.

Earlier this year in South Africa, the Hilux and Ranger ranked as the top two best-selling models in the region, with the D-Max coming in at fifth place.

The launch of this new pickup truck will expand BYD’s broad lineup of EVs, such as the renowned Seagull hatchback, which sells for 69,800 yuan (or under $10,000), and the prestigious Yangwang supercar that sells for 1.68 million yuan ($233,000).

Last year, BYD claimed the title of the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer. However, it lost this position to Tesla following its first-quarter results, despite experiencing a decrease in deliveries.

The Chinese carmaker is not familiar with the wider hurdles the EV players face by way of dwindling demand. The company sold 300,114 electric vehicles in the first quarter of the year, marking a significant 43% decline compared to the December quarter of 2023. At the same time, its biggest competitor, Tesla, delivered almost 387,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2024, which is an 8.5% decline from the previous year.