Ahead of local launch in Q4 2026 (October to December) Chery Australia has announced a competition to name the first ute to be sold here. The winner will receive the first Chery model to arrive in Australia.
The double cab 4×4 ute is believed to be the world’s first plug-in hybrid diesel ute and is currently known by the internal model code KP31. It is said to offer a purely electric range of up to 170 km – with the added benefit of a 2.5 liter turbo diesel engine.
Chery is now asking for help finding a suitable name for the brand new double cab vehicle.
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The move comes after Chery unveiled an independent crew cab for developing markets in 2025 called Himla.
While the model’s name was innocently derived from the Himalayas – a rugged mountain range in Asia that is home to Mount Everest – it caused a stir at the time because it bore phonetic similarities to an infamous German military leader from World War II.
For the completely different KP31, Chery is asking contestants to provide a “brief explanation of why (the name) is right for the vehicle” with their submission.
“(The ute) will be tailored to Australia’s needs and wants – meaning 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 told media at the vehicle’s unveiling in February 2026.
“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 we will deliver when we bring this vehicle to market,” Harris said at the time.
The groundbreaking plug-in hybrid diesel ute – expected to feature triple locking differentials and other off-road features – will be joined in 2027 by the option of a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain, rivaling pioneering examples of its kind including the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV.
Submissions for The Great Australian Chery Ute Naming Competition opened today (Thursday 12 March) at 12:00pm AEDT and closes on Thursday 26 March 2026 at 11:50pm AEDT.
For more information and to enter the competition, visit the Chery Australia website by clicking here.
MORE: 2027 Chery’s off-road ute comes onto the market with a diesel plug-in hybrid
