Ford CEO Tests Chinese Plug-in Hybrid Pickup: Praises Competitiveness, Questions Heavy-Duty Capability

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently test-drove two Chinese plug-in hybrid pickups in Australia—the BYD Shark 6 and the Great Wall Shanhai Cannon (sold overseas as the Alpha). He acknowledged their market competitiveness, particularly for customers seeking electrification without frequent heavy-duty use, but noted they still fall short of traditional work-oriented pickups like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux when it comes to serious "heavy lifting." Farley candidly stated that with a 500-kilogram load in the bed, the Shark’s performance lags far behind purpose-built pickups. He also revealed that Ford’s team has already disassembled and studied the BYD pickup but remains puzzled by its cost structure. While recognizing the rapid global expansion of Chinese brands into the midsize pickup segment, Farley emphasized that Ford and Toyota retain a clear advantage thanks to decades of accumulated expertise in chassis engineering, towing, and payload capabilities.