We investigate the (1 + 1)-dimensional position-dependent mass Dirac equation within the confines of so(2, 1) potential algebra by utilizing the character of a spatial varying Fermi velocity. We examine the combined effects of the two when the Dirac equation is equipped with an external pseudoscalar potential. Solutions of the three cases induced by so(2, 1) are explored by profitably making use of a point canonical transformation. © 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.