Australian buyers of the new Performance edition of BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute are accepting vehicles without the complete underbody shield, after several hundred high-output dual-cab examples arrived missing a component fitted only to this variant.

The Shark 6 Performance debuted in April as the range flagship, powered by a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine within a 350kW/700Nm hybrid drivetrain.

Like other versions it offers a 3500kg braked towing rating, matching the class standard set by rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

A production oversight at the Chinese factory meant early Performance models reached Australia without the additional underbody protection that distinguishes this grade from lower-spec Shark 6 variants.

A BYD Australia spokesperson explained that the omission poses no safety risk, so customers were offered the option to wait for the part due in July or collect the vehicle immediately and have the shield installed during the first service.

The component supplies extra shielding for off-road use, yet the brand noted that standard Shark 6 models have already completed numerous off-road evaluations with media and owners without it.

The first wave of Performance vehicles formed part of the cargo aboard the BYD Zhengzhou, the company's inaugural purpose-built car carrier to reach Melbourne this month.

That same delivery also carried examples of the newly introduced Shark 6 Dynamic, an entry-level cab-chassis model that shares the 321kW/650Nm plug-in hybrid system of the existing Premium variant, built around a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and twin electric motors.

The Shark 6 ranked as BYD's top-selling model in Australia throughout 2025 and continues as the brand's second-best performer so far in 2026, trailing only the Sealion 7 electric SUV.

Strong demand for both vehicles has supported BYD's rapid growth, placing the brand second only to Toyota on national sales charts for April and May 2026.