Daily Sparkz an early preview was given Chery’s first dual cab Down Under, a model being developed jointly by Australia and China ahead of an expected launch late next year.
The vehicle is closely related to the Chinese Rely KP3X (another brand under the Chery umbrella) and will ride on a new ladder frame platform. It is intended to compete directly with market leaders such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
It also faces a rapidly growing list of Chinese rivals, including BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha, JAC T9, LDV T60 and Terron 9, as well as the recently launched MG U9.
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Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris said Daily Sparkz Australian contributions were included in the project from the outset. Local coordination and validation work should begin before production begins.
“For the ute that’s currently being developed, it’s very much a joint effort between Australia and China and I think from a volume perspective we’ll be the first two markets to get this new (model),” Mr Harris said.
Daily Sparkz expects the ute to be available in the Chinese market with petrol, diesel, petrol plug-in hybrid and diesel plug-in hybrid powertrains, making it one of the most diverse powertrain ranges in the segment.
At this stage there are strong indications that Australia will opt for the diesel plug-in hybrid option, which combines the pulling power of a diesel engine with the efficiency of a hybrid.
The Chery is expected to have a braked towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and a payload capacity of around one tonne and will rival Australia’s best-selling small cars in both work and lifestyle configurations.
Mr Harris said the ute would be one of the company’s most significant vehicles for Australia and described it as central to the brand’s next phase of growth.
“If we’re not trying to do 1,000 a month in this huge segment, why bring one?” he said.
Daily Sparkz expects the model to launch in China first before hitting Australian showrooms in late 2026, with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to launch.
If it hits its target of 1000 a month, the new ute could quickly become one of Chery’s core models – and its first real rival to Australia’s best-known workhorses.
Chinese vs non-Chinese ute sales (January–October 2025)
| Origin | Ute sales (January – October 2025) | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 32,084 | 17.1% |
| Other | 155,360 | 82.9% |
| Completely disappeared from the market | 187,444 | 100% |
These models account for about one in six small cars sold in Australia this year, a notable presence in the country’s traditionally most conservative segment.
Below is a table showing ute sales year to date (January-Oct 2025), with offerings from China in bold for context.
| rank | Exterior model | Jan.–Oct. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 46,452 |
| 2 | Toyota HiLux | 45,257 |
| 3 | Isuzu D-Max | 22,615 |
| 4 | Mitsubishi Triton | 15,795 |
| 5 | BYD Shark 6 | 15,181 |
| 6 | Mazda BT-50 | 12,410 |
| 7 | Cannon Valley | 8249 |
| 8 | Nissan Navara | 6539 |
| 9 | Volkswagen Amarok | 4649 |
| 10 | LDV T60 | 3699 |
| 11 | Chevrolet Silverado | 3126 |
| 12 | RAM 1500 | 2321 |
| 13 | Cannon Alpha Valley | 2053 |
| 14 | JAC T9 | 1362 |
| 15 | Ram 2500 | 448 |
| 16 | LDV Terron 9 | 399 |
| 17 | MG U9 | 141 |
| 18 | Ram 3500 | 12 |
MORE: Explore the Chery showroom
