The clock is running out on the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and Australian BYD distributor EVDirect is working to deliver delayed Shark 6 utes before the April 1 cutoff date.
Shark 6 deliveries have been impacted by industrial action at Australian ports. Though this action has now ended, the ripple effects are seeing customers take delivery of their vehicles later than expected.
EVDirect now says it has received over 6000 Shark 6 orders – up another 500 in the last fortnight alone – since it announced pricing and opened orders last October, though deliveries only commenced earlier this month.
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It’s unclear how many vehicle deliveries have been impacted by the drama at the ports.
“We have the whole team working around the clock to minimise [the impact of the industrial action],” EVDirect founder and executive chairman Luke Todd told CarExpert.
“The port activity was completely out of our hands, but the impact of that is significant.
“The timing of it, when we did have so many people waiting – especially just after Christmas and New Year.
“The impact of the strike activity at ports was just terrible timing, so we’re now doing everything we can to satisfy as many deliveries as possible, and we’re doing everything we can to hopefully have zero people impacted with the FBT, but as it stands I couldn’t assure that.
“We’re doing all we can, and that’s all we can do. It’s unfortunate that as an island country we are held to ransom by ports.”
While the FBT exemption will continue for certain EVs beyond April 1, it’s ending for PHEVs as from that date they’ll no longer be considered a zero- or low-emissions vehicle.
That means customers will need to sign a novated lease agreement and take delivery before April 1, per Australian Tax Office (ATO) guidelines.
PHEV sales were up by 100.2 per cent in 2024, outpacing the growth for electric vehicles (up 4.7 per cent over 2023) and hybrids (up 76 per cent).
With the Shark 6, BYD has beaten other brands to the punch in offering a PHEV ute in Australia.
Ford’s Ranger PHEV isn’t due here until mid-year, while the PHEV version of GWM’s Cannon Alpha is set for a second-quarter launch.
BYD’s first ute is available in a sole 4×4 dual-cab specification, priced at $57,900 before on-road costs.
This sees it undercut the Ford Ranger XLT Bi-Turbo dual-cab ($63,640 before on-roads), which indicates there will be a significant gulf between the Shark and a comparable Ranger PHEV.
Powering the Shark 6 is a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, plus two electric motors (one on each axle), and a 29.58kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
The powertrain produces total outputs of 321kW and 650Nm, sent to all four wheels.
BYD claims an electric-only driving range of 100km (NEDC), with fuel economy as low as 2.0L/100km when running as a hybrid with the battery charged.
The Shark 6 has a braked towing capacity of 2500kg – down on the 3500kg figure of most Ranger models, including the upcoming PHEV.
MORE: Everything BYD Shark 6
