Chinese Automaker BYD Accused of ‘Shamelessly Copying’ Iconic Ford F150 in Pickup Truck Design

Leaked Test of BYD’s Pickup Truck
Resembles Ford Pickup Truck
Official Reveal Expected in the First Half of This Year

After toppling Tesla last year, BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that took the top spot in fourth-quarter sales, has recently emerged as a formidable EV competitor that even Tesla fears. Recently, a test car of BYD’s midsize pickup truck, which they plan to launch as part of the Ocean series by the end of this year, was spotted by international media outlets.

The designer of the BYD pickup truck is Wolfgang Egger, well-known for overseeing the design of Audi in the past. However, those who have seen the BYD pickup truck test car are saying that the design is strikingly similar to Ford’s F150 Raptor and Ford Ranger, which has become a hot topic.

Large Logo on the Grille
C-Shaped Headlights

Upon examining the front of the BYD pickup truck, you can see a large BYD logo engraved on the grille and a sturdy fender that stands out. In addition, it features C-shaped headlights that wrap around the grille. The side of the vehicle is impressive, with black molding that connects the front and rear bumpers, the side skirts of the body, and a sports bar on the truck bed.

However, the design of the Ford F-150, revealed first, also features a large logo in the middle of the grille and divided headlamps vertically, and the shape of the C-shaped headlights is very similar to that of the Ford Ranger. The exterior of the BYD is reminiscent of the Ford F-150 and Ford Ranger in every aspect.

Huawei’s Head-Up Display
PHEV and Electric Vehicle Lineup

The interior of the BYD pickup truck is equipped with a 10.25-inch LCD digital dashboard, and it is said to offer an AR head-up display developed by Huawei. In addition, it supports Apple CarPlay. The BYD pickup truck features a 15.6-inch rotatable infotainment screen that can utilize Android Auto. The powertrain of the BYD pickup truck will operate in two lineups: PHEV and pure electric. Specifically, the PHEV version boasts a powerful force of 615 horsepower, combining a twin motor with a maximum output of 489 horsepower and a 1.5L turbo engine with a maximum output of 139 horsepower.

Additionally, it is known to be able to travel up to 745.6 miles when the gasoline tank and battery are fully charged. BYD plans to release the PHEV version of the new pickup truck by the end of this year, with the electric vehicle version to be unveiled later. The sale price is estimated to be between 40,000 and 60,000 yuan (approximately 6,300 to 9,400 U.S. dollars). The BYD pickup truck is expected to compete fiercely in the North American market with the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, and Mitsubishi Triton.

The pickup truck that BYD is launching is scheduled to be released sequentially in the Chinese, Australian, New Zealand, and European markets in the second half of this year after being unveiled in the first half. If BYD starts selling the pickup truck in earnest in the second half of next year, there is a concern about a major dispute that it is very similar to Ford’s design. It is questionable whether a company that excessively takes over the design of other companies’ vehicles can indeed be the world’s number one company in the electrification market.