A pickup truck that does 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and still scores five stars for safety is not something the segment is used to.
BYD's Shark 6, sold as the Shark DMO in Europe, has earned a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP. It is the ninth BYD model to do so since the brand entered the European passenger car market in 2022.
The relevance for Nepal is direct. Cimex Inc. has been showing the Shark 6 here since late 2025, and it was displayed again at the NADA Auto Show in August.
The safety scores
The Shark scored 82 percent for adult occupant protection, 86 percent for child occupant protection, 74 percent for vulnerable road user protection and 87 percent for safety assist.
Euro NCAP singled out two things in particular. The first was how the truck protected child dummies in the side-barrier test, alongside its child presence detection system. The second was the speed assistance system, which can set the limiter automatically from detected speed limits.
Crash protection, autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure support were all highlighted.
Worth noting how the rating was reached. It builds on an ANCAP assessment from 2025, with additional evaluations by Euro NCAP. That matters because ANCAP testing happens in Australia, where the Shark 6 has been on sale longer and where pickups face conditions closer to Nepal's than European ones do.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President at BYD, described the result as proof of how the company's engineering and electronics work together.
Powertrain
The Shark 6 sold here runs BYD's DMO Super Hybrid platform, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two permanent magnet synchronous motors.
The front motor is rated at 170 kW and the rear at 150 kW, giving a combined output of 436 PS and 650 Nm. That is enough for 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.
For a body-on-frame pickup, that is genuinely rapid. Most trucks in this class need nine or ten seconds to reach the same speed.
DMO stands for Dual Mode Off-road. The battery is integrated into the ladder frame rather than slung underneath, which keeps the centre of gravity low without costing ground clearance.
Battery and range
The Nepal-market Shark 6 carries a 29.58 kWh BYD Blade Battery, offering up to 100 km of electric-only range on the NEDC cycle and a claimed combined range of 840 km with a full battery and tank.
Fuel consumption is rated at 7.5 litres per 100 km, with a 60-litre tank.
One thing worth knowing if you read international coverage. European listings for this truck quote a 32.2 kWh battery with 90 km of electric range and 675 km combined. Those are WLTP figures on a different battery specification, so they do not describe the version sold here. Work from the Nepal numbers.
Dimensions and capability
The Shark 6 measures 5,457mm long, 1,971mm wide and 1,925mm tall on a 3,260mm wheelbase, with 200mm of ground clearance.
Payload is rated at 835 kg and maximum towing at 2,500 kg. The four-wheel-drive system offers Sand, Mud and Snow modes, with independent suspension front and rear.
That payload figure deserves attention. At 835 kg it is lower than most diesel pickups in this class, which is the standard trade-off for carrying a substantial battery. If you haul serious weight regularly, check it against your actual loads.
Tyres are 265/65 R18 on alloys with ventilated discs, tubeless, and a spare is included.
Interior and features
The cabin is where the Shark 6 separates itself most clearly from a conventional pickup.
There is a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display, with a two-spoke steering wheel carrying tactile controls. Dual-zone climate control covers all five seats.
Connectivity runs to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a digital key, voice control and remote vehicle management.
Vehicle-to-Load lets the truck power external equipment directly from its battery, rated at 6.6 kW. On a work vehicle that is more useful than any screen, since it means running tools on site without hauling a generator.
Safety equipment includes eight airbags, DiPilot ADAS with adaptive cruise control and lane assist, and a 360-degree camera.
BYD Shark 6 features
Five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP safety ratings
Eight airbags
DiPilot ADAS with adaptive cruise control and lane assist
360-degree camera
15.6-inch rotating touchscreen
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display
Dual-zone climate control
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless phone charging
Vehicle-to-Load at 6.6 kW
Four-wheel drive with Sand, Mud and Snow modes
Independent suspension front and rear
Digital key and remote vehicle management
Specifications
Specification | Detail |
Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid, DMO Super Hybrid platform |
Engine | 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol |
Motors | PMSM, 170 kW front and 150 kW rear |
Combined Output | 436 PS, 650 Nm |
0 to 100 km/h | 5.7 seconds |
Top Speed | 160 km/h |
Battery | 29.58 kWh BYD Blade Battery |
Electric Range (NEDC) | Up to 100 km |
Combined Range | Up to 840 km |
Fuel Consumption | 7.5 litres per 100 km |
Fuel Tank | 60 litres |
Drive Type | All-wheel drive |
Length x Width x Height | 5,457 x 1,971 x 1,925 mm |
Wheelbase | 3,260 mm |
Ground Clearance | 200 mm |
Payload | 835 kg |
Towing Capacity | 2,500 kg |
Tyres | 265/65 R18 alloys, tubeless |
Seating | Five |
Price in Nepal
BYD has not announced an official Nepal price for the Shark 6. Cimex Inc. indicated a figure in the region of Rs 1.5 crore when the truck was first introduced in late 2025, but that was an estimate rather than a launch price, and we are not treating it as confirmed.
For context on where that lands, the new Toyota Hilux debuted at the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo at Rs 1.55 crore, which would put the two in direct competition if the Shark arrives near that estimate.
Anyone seriously considering one should get the current figure from Cimex directly, along with confirmation of whether it is ex-showroom or on-road.
How it fits Nepal
The case for a plug-in hybrid pickup here is stronger than it might first appear.
Up to 100 km of electric range covers most valley driving without touching petrol, while the engine removes range anxiety on longer routes where charging thins out fast. That combination suits Nepal considerably better than a pure electric pickup would.
Ground clearance of 200mm and proper four-wheel drive with terrain modes handle the roads. Vehicle-to-Load is genuinely useful anywhere power supply is unreliable, which covers most of the country at some point in the year.
The reservations are the familiar ones for new technology in this market. A plug-in hybrid is mechanically more complex than a diesel, combining an engine, two motors and a high-voltage battery, and servicing that needs expertise still developing here. BYD's position is stronger than most Chinese brands, given how dominant the company has become globally, and Cimex has built a real network. But a pickup is a work vehicle, and downtime costs money.
Conclusion
Five stars from Euro NCAP, reached partly through ANCAP testing, gives the Shark 6 safety credentials very few pickups can match. The 87 percent safety assist score in particular reflects equipment still optional on far more expensive trucks.
The performance is almost beside the point, though 5.7 seconds to 100 km/h in a vehicle with a load bed is the kind of number that sells itself.
What the Shark 6 really represents is the plug-in hybrid arriving in a segment that has run on diesel for decades. For buyers who cover short distances most days and long ones occasionally, which describes a great many people here, it is a format that makes real sense.
The missing piece remains the price. Until Cimex confirms it, everything else is specification without context.
For more on EV launches, prices and the auto market in Nepal, Autoncell covers them as they land.
