BYD Shark 6 towing capacity, GVM and payload

The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid dual cab with a 3,500kg GVM, but a kerb weight approaching 2.8 tonnes. Payload lands between 725kg and 900kg, among the tightest of any ute sold here.

Shark 6. 3 variants, figures transcribed from the manufacturer's spec sheets.

BYD Shark 6 key figures

GVM
3,500kg
Kerb weight
2,600 to 2,775kg
Payload
725 to 900kg
GCM
5,750 to 6,650kg
Towing (braked)
2,500 to 3,500kg
Tow ball max
250 to 350kg
Front axle
Not published
Rear axle
1,900 to 1,927kg
Why these are ranges

BYD Shark 6

Work out your own Shark 6

Already set to the BYD Shark 6. Choose your variant, add what you're fitting, and see what payload you have left.

Every Shark 6 variant, side by side

Shark 6. Payload is GVM minus kerb weight, before you fit anything or put anyone in it.

VariantKerbGVMPayloadGCMTowing
Dynamic Cab Chassis AWD PHEV2,600kg3,500kg900kg5,750kg2,500kg
Performance Dual Cab Pick-Up AWD PHEV2,775kg3,500kg725kg6,650kg3,500kg
Premium Dual Cab Pick-Up AWD PHEV2,710kg3,500kg790kg5,750kg2,500kg

What eats your payload on a Shark 6

The hybrid system itself

The battery and motors are the reason the Shark 6 starts heavy. It is not an accessory you can decline, and it is why a ute with a 3,500kg GVM ends up with less payload than lighter utes rated at 3,000kg.

A tray or canopy

On a payload this tight, a tray and canopy alone can account for most of what the vehicle is allowed to carry. BYD's own brochure warns that a tray changes the mass, payload and towing figures and must be verified once fitted.

Tow ball weight

Up to 350kg on the variants rated to tow 3,500kg. Against a payload starting at 725kg, that is roughly half of it gone before any gear or passengers.

Shark 6 specifics worth knowing

Not every variant tows 3,500kg

The towing ratings differ across the range, and so do the GCMs, by nearly a tonne. If towing is the reason you are looking, read the figure for the exact variant rather than the number in the advertising.

A high GVM does not mean a high payload

This is the Shark 6 in one line. It has one of the highest GVMs here and one of the lowest payloads, because payload is GVM minus kerb weight and the kerb weight is enormous. Judge a ute on payload, not on GVM.

BYD says the cab chassis figures need verifying once a tray is on

Their brochure states this explicitly for the cab chassis, and we agree with them. Take the vehicle over a weighbridge after the tray goes on, because the published figure describes a vehicle that no longer exists.

BYD Shark 6 questions

What is the payload of a BYD Shark 6?

Between 725kg and 900kg depending on variant, which is among the tightest of any ute sold in Australia. Select yours above for the exact figure.

Can a BYD Shark 6 tow 3,500kg?

Some variants are rated at 3,500kg and others considerably lower. Check the figure for your exact variant, because the GCMs differ by close to a tonne as well.

Why is the Shark 6's payload so low when its GVM is 3,500kg?

Because payload is GVM minus kerb weight, and the plug-in hybrid drivetrain makes this a very heavy vehicle before anything is added. A high GVM on a heavy vehicle does not produce a high payload.

Is the Shark 6 suitable for a touring build?

Run the numbers first. With payload under 900kg, a canopy, drawers, water and a family will get you to GVM quickly. The calculator on this page will tell you in about a minute.

What is the Shark 6's GCM?

It differs sharply between variants, by close to a tonne. The figure for yours is in the table above along with the spec sheet it came from.

Compare another vehicle

CheckMyGVM publishes Australian vehicle mass figures transcribed from manufacturer spec sheets. It is a guide, not engineering advice, and it is not a substitute for a weighbridge or a certified installer.

Questions or a correction to a figure? [email protected]

© 2026 CheckMyGVM