Now that’s interesting: BYD has just filed a patent for what looks to be an entry-level compact pickup truck. The patent was published on the European Union Intellectual Property database, and there are even spy shots of the new pickup circulating in China.
From the images, the fascia looks similar to that of the relatively new Sealion 5 DM-i crossover, sharing the same grille shape and bumper design. The exact dimensions and powertrain specs are not included in the patent, but the overall look hints at a unibody pickup, likely based on the Sealion platform.
It could be positioned as a smaller stablemate to the Shark 6 DMO, and if this is indeed a Sealion-based truck, it should make use of the brand’s Super DM-i powertrain. That would mean a single-motor setup with a 1.5-liter engine serving as a generator.
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If it were launched globally, it would mainly go up against the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, neither of which is sold in the Philippines. Interestingly, the patent image appears to have a similar roofline and bed to the Santa Cruz.
Locally, compact trucks aren’t nearly as popular as midsize offerings like the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux. A unibody DM-i BYD pickup will likely compete with base 4x2 variants of the aforementioned nameplates, pitting extended driving range and better comfort against payload capacity and ladder-on-frame capability.
Would you want to see this pickup in the Philippines? Let us know in the comments.
