2026 is the year the electric pickup genuinely arrived in Thailand — but the three contenders are at very different stages, and most of the specification tables circulating online are still from early in the year. Here’s where things actually stand as of July 2026.
| Model | Actual status |
|---|---|
| Isuzu D-Max EV | Launched 23 March 2026 at the Bangkok International Motor Show |
| Toyota Hilux Travo EV | Launched (April 2026) |
| BYD Shark 6 | No Thai launch date or price announced — still listed as coming soon |
Comparison (Announced Figures Only)
| Item | Isuzu D-Max EV | Toyota Hilux Travo EV | BYD Shark 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ฿1,500,000 - ฿1,591,000 | ฿1,049,000 (as reported) | Not announced |
| Status | On sale | On sale | No launch date |
| Type | Full BEV | Full BEV | PHEV |
| Range | 331 km per charge | 257 km (WLTP) | — |
| System power | 140 kW (~188 hp) | 196 hp | — |
| System torque | 325 Nm | — | — |
| Drivetrain | AWD, twin motor (front + rear) | AWD | AWD |
| Body | Double cab, single fully-equipped trim | — | — |
| Built in | Thailand | Thailand (Samut Prakan) | China |
| EV3.5 subsidy | Yes | Yes, ฿50,000 | No (imported PHEV) |
Important correction: figures widely circulated earlier — “D-Max EV expected around ฿1.2M, ~270 km, 175 hp, launching May 2026” — were all wrong. The actual car launched on 23 March 2026 at ฿1.5-1.59M with 331 km of range and a 140 kW / 325 Nm system.
The D-Max EV Is Far More Expensive Than Expected
The most consequential thing about the real pricing is how wide the gap turned out to be:
- Toyota Hilux Travo EV — around ฿1.05 million
- Isuzu D-Max EV — ฿1.5-1.59 million
That’s a difference of roughly ฿450,000-540,000 — close to half the price of an entire diesel pickup. What you get for it is 74 km more range (331 vs 257) and a single fully-equipped trim.
In baht per kilometre of range: Hilux Travo EV around ฿4,080/km, D-Max EV around ฿4,530-4,806/km. The Toyota is better value on that measure.
But the D-Max EV’s 331 km crosses a genuine usability threshold for work that covers 200+ km a day, where 257 km starts requiring planning.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Isuzu D-Max EV
Strengths: 331 km is the longest range of anything actually on sale here; AWD with front and rear motors, 140 kW / 325 Nm system output; one fully-equipped trim so there’s no confusing spec ladder; Isuzu is the pickup brand Thai buyers know best, with service coverage in essentially every district; built locally, so EV3.5 applies.
Weaknesses: the most expensive by a wide margin at ฿1.5-1.59M, roughly ฿500,000 above the Toyota; at that price it overlaps top-spec diesel pickups; only one body style (double cab).
Toyota Hilux Travo EV
Strengths: cheapest of the cars actually on sale at around ฿1.05M; built in Samut Prakan so it qualifies for the ฿50,000 EV3.5 subsidy; Toyota has the largest service network in the country; the Hilux name carries real weight on durability and resale; 1,000 kg payload.
Weaknesses: 257 km range, 74 km short of the D-Max EV; 1,800 kg towing capacity is well below the diesel Hilux’s 3,500 kg; no range extender option.
BYD Shark 6
On paper: being a PHEV it removes range anxiety entirely; the specifications announced in other markets are clearly stronger than either rival; higher towing capacity.
In reality: no Thai launch date or price has been announced. The numbers circulating online are projections. As an imported PHEV it wouldn’t qualify for EV3.5, and running two drivetrains means more complex maintenance than a BEV.
Straight advice: if you need an electric pickup this year, decide between the two that are actually on sale. Don’t wait for the Shark on an open-ended timeline.
Which Suits Which Job
Town and in-province work, 50-150 km/day — SMEs, shops, service businesses → Toyota Hilux Travo EV. 257 km is more than enough, and you keep half a million baht.
Long days, 200+ km — agriculture, cross-district transport → Isuzu D-Max EV. The extra 74 km is what removes mid-day charging from your schedule.
Corporate or government fleets under carbon-neutral policies → Either qualifies for EV3.5. Choose on budget and which dealer network you already use.
Towing boats or heavy trailers → No electric pickup in Thailand yet matches a diesel for towing. The Hilux Travo EV tows 1,800 kg against the diesel Hilux’s 3,500 kg. If heavy towing is the core of the job, diesel is still the correct answer — and we’d rather say so.
In Phuket → The island is about 50 km end to end, so both are hugely over-specified. Hilux Travo EV is clearly better value for island work. If you cross to Phang Nga or Krabi frequently, the D-Max EV’s range is the more relaxing choice.
Five-Year Costs (Corrected Pricing)
Assuming 20,000 km/year — 100,000 km over five years:
| Item | Hilux Travo EV | Isuzu D-Max EV |
|---|---|---|
| List price | ฿1,049,000 | ฿1,591,000 |
| EV3.5 subsidy | -฿50,000 | -฿50,000 |
| Net price | ฿999,000 | ฿1,541,000 |
| Financed over 5 years | ฿1,130,000 | ฿1,742,000 |
| Electricity (100,000 km) | ฿85,000 | ฿90,000 |
| Maintenance | ฿20,000 | ฿20,000 |
| Comprehensive insurance | ฿110,000 | ฿150,000 |
| Five-year total | ฿1,345,000 | ฿2,002,000 |
| Difference | — | +฿657,000 |
A ฿657,000 gap over five years is a very large number for a working vehicle — nearly four times the combined electricity cost of both trucks.
Our Scoring
| Dimension | Hilux Travo EV | D-Max EV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 10 | 6 |
| Range | 7 | 9 |
| Power | 8 | 8 |
| Availability | 10 | 10 |
| Service network | 10 | 9 |
| Payload / towing | 7 | 7 |
| Value per baht | 10 | 6 |
| Total | 62/70 | 55/70 |
Verdict: Toyota Hilux Travo EV, on price
The D-Max EV is the better vehicle on specification — 74 km more range, twin motors — but justifying a ฿500,000+ premium is hard unless your work genuinely exceeds 257 km in a day.
EV Phuket — Electric Pickup Service
Electric pickups have a 12V battery like every other vehicle, and that’s the one that leaves you stranded — not the traction pack.
| Model | 12V replacement |
|---|---|
| Toyota Hilux Travo EV | ฿2,800 - ฿3,400 |
| Isuzu D-Max EV | ฿2,800 - ฿3,400 |
| Diesel pickups (Revo, D-Max, Ranger) | ฿2,600 - ฿2,900 |
A working vehicle sitting dead is lost income. We reach you in 20-30 minutes, 24 hours a day.
Call 098-168-9907 — anywhere in Phuket
Related Reading
- EV vs Hybrid 2026 - electric or hybrid, which costs less
- BYD Atto 3 vs MG ZS EV 2026 - electric SUVs
- Isuzu D-Max Battery Guide - the diesel version
- Car Battery Replacement Cost 2026 - full price guide
Sources: Isuzu Motors Thailand (Bangkok International Motor Show, 23 March 2026), Toyota Motor Thailand, BYD Thailand, Thairath Auto, Electrive, CarsGuide — status verified July 2026.