Chery is expected to launch an all-new off-road crew cab vehicle later this year, featuring the first diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain in the segment.
Known with the internal model code KP31, the as yet unnamed Chery ute will initially come onto the market in the fourth quarter of 2026 with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine with plug-in hybrid technology and offer an electric range of up to 170 kilometers – but exact figures are not yet known.
Chery hasn’t confirmed specifications for the production model, but previous reports from China suggest the company’s 2.5-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine produces 210kW and 650Nm.
Company executives claim the combination of diesel engine and plug-in hybrid technology will bring significant benefits to drivers, including better power-to-weight ratio and reduced noise and vibration.
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In 2027, the range will be expanded to include a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid drive that will directly compete with the BYD Shark 6.
The KP31 is said to offer a payload of 1000 kg, with a braked towing capacity of up to 3500 kg.
Designed specifically for the Australian market, Chery has confirmed the ute will come with front, center and rear limited-slip differentials and is also expected to feature off-road modes and a low-range gearbox – all of which should contribute to its performance in the bush.
While exact details have not yet been confirmed, a rolling model prototype showed the vehicle with a tight cornering feature – similar to Trail Turn Assist available on Ford utes – which locks the inside rear wheel to make it easier to turn the vehicle around loose hairpin bends.
The rolling prototype also features front and rear stop plates, recovery points and a snorkel, with the concept being “very close” to the final production car.
The tires, wheel size, offset and six-hole pattern were reportedly based on the combined wish lists of several Australian off-road tire specialists, who were consulted by Chery’s local representatives before the information was passed on to the Chinese engineers.
Chery clearly took inspiration from the Ford Bronco when designing the ute, but the rear also borrows some of the best design elements from the competition – with integrated steps for easy access.
The tub also sits high enough above the chassis to ensure that the tub protrudes minimally into the wheel arches.
Daily Sparkz is clear that pricing has not yet been finalized, while company officials ignored the question of an all-electric version of the double-cab model in the future.
As previously reported, the ute sits on the “Kaitan” ladder frame chassis, which is designed to accommodate combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and electric drives.
“It will be tailored to Australia’s needs and wants – long-distance touring, payload towing, multi-terrain use, with an added focus on efficiency and of course performance,” Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said.
“In Australia, one of the most important metrics for a ute – and it’s very simple – is ‘can it do its job?’ So our platform goals are very clear.
“We need to have a payload of 1,000 kilos and a towing capacity of three and a half tonnes, which is what we will deliver when we bring this ute to market,” Harris told the media Daily Sparkz.
Details about the ute’s interior are currently under wraps.
The Chery ute was originally shown at the Chengdu Motor Show in late 2025 as a Chery-branded Rely model, alongside a slightly smaller electric ute called the KP2X.
At the same time, Rely confirmed that it is working on a KP4X ute – which could target US pickups like the one Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, And Ram 1500.
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