The BYD Shark 6, the first plug-in hybrid electric utility vehicle to undergo local ANCAP testing, has received a five-star safety rating. The rating applies to all variants of the vehicle which launched in Australia and New Zealand in January 2025.
The vehicle is equipped with an extensive range of safety features, including dual frontal, side chest-protecting, and side head-protecting airbags. A centre airbag designed to protect front-seat occupants in side-impact crashes is also standard.
It is also equipped with a range of safety technologies as standard, including:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Effective against cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
- Lane Support Systems (LSS): Includes lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW), and emergency lane keeping (ELK).
- Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS).
Protection for Occupants and Road Users
The SHARK 6 received an 85 per cent score in Adult Occupant Protection category. The passenger cabin remained stable in the frontal offset (MPDB) test. Furthermore, its key body regions recorded Good protection, except for the driver’s chest, which was rated Adequate.
In the full-width frontal test, protection for the driver’s neck and chest was Adequate, while rear passenger chest protection was Marginal. Due to the vehicle’s size, weight, and front-end design, ANCAP applied a full 8.00-point penalty in the MPDB test for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility concerns.
It achieved an impressive 87 per cent score in Child Occupant Protection. The vehicle performed strongly in frontal offset and side impact tests, providing Good protection for both 6-year-old and 10-year-old dummies. It is also fitted with a Child Presence Detection (CPD) system, which can automatically activate the air conditioning if an unattended child is detected inside the cabin. However, the system did not meet ANCAP’s functional requirements, resulting in a zero score in this specific test area.
Under the Vulnerable Road User Protection assessment, the vehicle scored 74 per cent. The vehicle’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system demonstrated Good performance in pedestrian detection scenarios. It also performed well in AEB Cyclist scenarios, effectively avoiding or mitigating collisions at all test speeds, including turning manoeuvres. The vehicle features alerts to prevent cyclist ‘dooring’ but showed only Marginal performance in AEB Backover tests.
A Strong Contender in the Electric Ute Market
“Five of BYD’s local models have now achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings, showing that new manufacturers are prioritising safety to align with consumer expectations,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.
“With the recently rated GWM Cannon Alpha hybrid ute and more electrified options entering the market, we are seeing significant advancements in light commercial vehicle safety.”
“For fleets looking to electrify their utility vehicle range, the SHARK 6 presents a new five-star plug-in hybrid option,” she added.
Full details on the vehicle’s ANCAP performance can be accessed in the official safety report here.
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