The world of automobiles is buzzing with excitement over Chery’s new concepts for pickup trucks. Chery is preparing to take on the segment that has been dominated by Ford and Toyota for years. The Chery KP11, known as the ‘Himla’ in other markets, and the KP31 with Diesel Plug in Hybrid soon to be released in 2026, are entering the ‘ute’ market for Australia, South Africa, and South East Asia. These rugged and durable trucks help to establish Chery’s position in the market as a value option for weekend adventurous and commercial customers.
A New Era of Design and Capability
Significant changes have been made to the company’s creative process and vision as seen at the latest international auto shows where Chery introduced new prototype designs to the market. KP11 is the first of the new models and has an enormous hexagonal front grille, a bold “CHERY” logo and muscular boxy shape. It can easily be compared alongside a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux. From an engineering perspective, Chery holds an excellent reputation. Their models have been built on a ladder frame chassis to meet mid-tier pickup engineering specs: 3,500 kg towing capacity, and 1,000 kg payload capacity. Their work-oriented trucks can handle any job, and not just as a “lifestyle” vehicle.
Innovation Under the Hood: The World’s First Diesel PHEV
Chery’s KP31 model is the first in its class to have a fully operational diesel plug-in hybrid. Engine configurations in this vehicle class are limited to either a standard diesel or a fully electric variant. This is not the case with the KP31, which uses an innovative system composed of a 2.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine and an electric motor which offers a phenomenal 47% thermal efficiency. This engine system will bestow Chery’s KP31 model with the most torque out of any vehicle in this class while also providing the best fuel economy. Evidence thus far has suggested that an overall driving range of over 1,300 km will be an attainable goal and will also provide a solution to the range anxiety concerns in fully electric vehicles. This will be a game changer in any rural and remote area.
| Feature | Chery KP11 (Standard) | Chery KP31 (Diesel PHEV) |
| Engine Type | 2.3L/2.4L Turbo Diesel/Petrol | 2.5L Turbo Diesel + Electric Motor |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500kg (Braked) | 3,500kg (Braked) |
| Payload | 1,000kg | 1,000kg |
| Total Range | Approx. 800km – 900km | Over 1,300km |
| Chassis | Ladder-Frame (Body-on-frame) | Ladder-Frame (Body-on-frame) |
| Expected Launch | Late 2025 / Early 2026 | Q4 2026 (Global) |
Tech-Forward Interiors and Safety Standards
Chery will draw from its premium SUV know-how to elevate the refinement in entry-level pickups to a new level. A large 15.6-inch floating touchscreen with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset will provide a fast experience and Chery is designing the pickup to achieve five-star scores in international crash tests for safety. A full suite of Level 2 ADAS, will be standard, to include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and 360-degree “transparent chassis” off-road camera views to help on tight trails.
Market Strategy and the Road Ahead
Chery Rely plans multiple pickups to be sold globally in several different markets. The R08 EV is a fully electric version, while the KP11 and KP31 are geared towards combustion and hybrid lovers. The company aims to be compliant within all regulatory and infrastructural variances with powertrains using all combinations of petrol, diesel, PHEV, and BEV. The company intends to capture a large consumer base in Australia and New Zealand’s ‘ute’ markets with low pricing and a competitive warranty. The company also plans to provide large competitor markets in these Remaining sub markets numerous designs of the vehicles to provide the strongest basis of competition with predominate current markets.
FAQs
Q1 When will the Chery pickup truck be available for purchase?
Traditional internal combustion (KP11) variants will be available in Australia and New Zealand towards the end of 2025. The KP31 Diesel PHEV targets Australia as the first global release within the last 3 months of 2025.
Q2 What is the towing capacity of the new Chery ute?
The new Chery pickup range is designed to be competitive with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg and approx 1,000kg as the standard payload capacity.
Q3 Will the Chery pickup have an all electric version?
Yes. Chery has launched the Rely R08 EV in China and some other parts of the world. It has single motor RWD and dual motor AWD options and the range is up to 510km on a single charge.
