Leading global EV maker BYD’s electric pickup was recently spotted testing in Australia, suggesting the new model could be launching overseas soon.
BYD’s new rugged electric pickup is rolling out soon
BYD has been developing an electric truck for years now. Chinese auto media website CarNewsChina spotted test models at BYD’s facility back in November 2022.
Last year, BYD’s electric pickup was spotted testing in China. Despite the camouflage, you could clearly see a charging port on the right, among other features suggesting it’s electric.
A leaked patent in October gave us a better idea of what to expect. The images revealed a rugged EV pickup resembling a new Toyota Tacoma or Ford F-150. Wolfgang Egger, Former Lamborghini and Audi designer, detailed the electric truck with a massive “BYD” symbol upfront.
It also includes a big front grille, four doors, and rugged fenders. Reports from China suggest it will be about 209″ long. That’s slightly shorter than Toyota’s Tacoma at 225″.
BYD’s electric pickup was recently spotted testing in Australia as the long-awaited right-hand drive model.
BYD’s electric pickup (Source: CarNewsChina/ YouTube)
The truck features a rugged, blocky design with stacked double LED headlights and side steps. According to reports, it will come as a dual-cab five-seater.
With new test models popping up overseas, the EV truck is expected to land in Australia soon, followed by other markets like South Africa.
BYD’s new electric pickup will compete with Ford’s F-150 Lightning (which recently landed in Norway), Geely’s Radar R6, and the Dongfeng Rich 6 EV. Although it has yet to be confirmed, the truck is expected to come in PHEV and all-electric powertrain options.
Electrek’s Take
After topping Tesla in Q4, BYD became the leading EV maker globally. The automaker plans to carry the momentum into 2024 with new EVs and a rapid overseas expansion.
Although best known for its low-cost models like the Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal, BYD is expanding into new segments like luxury and mid-size SUVs.
BYD’s Mexico head, Zhou Zou, told Nikkei that the automaker is considering building a plant in the nation as it looks to establish an export hub to the US. American automakers Ford and GM recently announced plans to launch lower-cost EVs in an effort to fend off Chinese automakers like BYD.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley said at the Wolfe Research Conference this week that if automakers cannot compete with the Chinese, “then 20% to 30%” of your revenue is at risk.
Now, it looks like BYD is aiming for Ford’s sweet spot in the electric truck market. Ford’s F-150 Lightning was the best-selling EV truck in the US last year, but new competition, including the Tesla Cybertruck, is entering the market. BYD looks to satisfy the growing demand for capable electric options in overseas markets with its new EV pickup.
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The BYD “Shenzhen” set sail on its first voyage overseas this week. With 9,200 parking spots, or about enough to fill 20 football fields, BYD’s new car transport ship is now the world’s largest.
BYD’s largest car carrier sets sail for Brazil
BYD’s Shenzhen is on its maiden voyage to Brazil after setting sail on April 27. The vessel is carrying over 7,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs), including electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It’s the largest single batch of NEVs exported from China so far.
The new vessel is BYD’s fourth car transport ship and the world’s largest, capable of carrying 9,000 vehicles. According to the company, that’s enough to fill about 20 football fields.
BYD launched its first car carrier, the Explorer No 1, in January 2024. It has already completed several trips to Germany, Spain, and Brazil.
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Its second, the BYD Changzhou, set sail in December 2024, followed by the Hefei earlier this year. All three vessels can carry up to 7,000 vehicles, making the Shenzhen the largest so far.
BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest car transport ship (Source: BYD)
The Shenzhen is named after the automaker’s hometown and demonstrates “BYD’s firm determination to promote sustainable development in Brazil.”
BYD is preparing to launch two more vessels, the Changsha and Xi’an. The Changsha is expected to launch soon, while the Xi’an was introduced on April 2.
The new car carriers will help accelerate BYD’s aggressive overseas expansion. In the first three months of 2025, the company sold over 206,000 NEVs overseas, more than double the number it sold last year.
BYD sells a wide range of vehicles in Brazil, including the low-cost Dolphin Mini, starting at around $20,000 (99,800 BRL). In October, it launched its first hybrid pickup truck, the Shark, starting at 379,800 BTL ($66,900).
Brazil is only one overseas market that BYD is targeting. BYD’s sales are expected to double in Europe in 2025, with significant growth in other key regions like Southeast Asia, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, to name a few.
‘Tesla homes’ in a Houston neighborhood where all the homes have Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls went for sale.
7 out of the 11 homes have reportedly already sold.
Tesla neighborhood is a term that is being used for new developments where all the homes integrate all or part of Tesla’s power ecosystem, including the Powerwall home battery pack.
The best example is a giant new development project in Austin, Texas, by Brookfield Asset Management and Dacra in which up to 12,000 new homes are to be built and offering Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls.
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However, since the announcement, it looks like only some of the homes in the new neighborhood have Tesla energy systems.
One such ‘Tesla neighborhood’ is a small block of 11 townhouse homes featuring Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls in Houston, Texas.
The homes were recently completed and went on sale, starting at $544,900.
Here are some pictures from the listings:
Utopia Homes, the developer behind the project, described the properties (via Chron):
Step into modern elegance expertly crafted by Utopia Homes. This property showcases groundbreaking Tesla Solar Roof Shingles and Power Wall technology, ensuring 100% energy security and eliminating electric bills for a truly sustainable lifestyle.
The house has proved popular according to the real estate agents, with 7 out of 11 homes already sold.
Tesla has largely stopped discussing it, but it is still being deployed through some third-party installers, such as in this case, on new homes.
However, its Powerwall product remains a very popular solution for homeowners seeking greater energy independence and protection against outages, which have been a frequent problem in Texas.
More homeowners are turning to generators, and alternatives like home battery packs are gaining popularity.
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Canadian electric propulsion specialist Vision Marine continues to graduate beyond advanced outboard motors into a provider of all-electric boats. This month, Vision introduced two new electric pontoon boats – the 12-passenger V24 and 15-passenger V30, each capable of a range up to 90 nautical miles.
Vision Marine Technologies ($VMAR) is a Canadian technology company with over 25 years of experience in the marine industry. The company made waves (literally) by introducing its E-Motion turnkey powertrain system, which it has since integrated into a catamaran speedboat, which set a speed record of 109 mph in 2022.
Since then, Vision has introduced six hp two-cruiser vessels – the Fantail 217 and Volt 180, each capable of transporting 10 passengers via its E-Motion technology. Most recently, Vision Marine has integrated the full power of its 180 hp electric powertrain technology into two additional vessels, both electric pontoon boats.
Earlier this month, the company officially began sales of the Vision V24 and V30, which you can view below.
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The V24 Electric Pontoon Boat / Source: Vision Marine
The V30 / Source: Vision Marine
Vision Marine brings power and range to electric pontoons
According to Vision Marine Technologies, orders for its two new electric pontoon boats are now open, and they are touting the same E-Motion technology that put the company on the map a few years ago.
The first model is the V24, a 12-passenger electric pontoon that is 24′ 8″ in length and has 180 hp. The ultra-quiet E-Motion powertrain is powered by a standard 43 kWh marine battery pack, offering 40 nautical miles (46 miles) of all-electric range on a single charge. For added range, Vision sells a version of the electric pontoon with a second battery pack, totaling 86 kWh and delivering up to 90 nautical miles (104 miles) of range.
While the V24 offers more of a classic attempt at the pontoon boat, Vision’s additional new vessel, the all-electric V30, is a tad sportier and provides room for more passengers aboard (15). This 30′ vessel features the same E-Motion powertrain options, complete with the same two battery configurations to offer the same ranges as the V24.
However, the V30 has additional features such as 4 x 6.5″ interior speakers and cool-touch seats. Both models feature an integrated onboard charger that supports both 120- 240V (30 to 50 amps) for seamless charging, no matter the dock plug while moored.
The Vision V24 starts at $99,995 for the standard battery pack version, while the V30 starts at a higher price of $139,995. As previously mentioned, both electric pontoon boats are available to order today.
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