A surprise concept confirms plans for Chery’s first in-house four-wheel-drive dual-cab ute, offering petrol and hybrid – but not diesel – power.
Chery has previewed plans for its first in-house dual-cab, off-road ute aimed at the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – with petrol and hybrid power, not diesel – ahead of a showroom version reportedly due next year.
The Chery KP11 is billed as a concept – and its windows are blocked off – but its GWM or Mitsubishi-esque styling appears to be close to production-ready.
Australian plans are yet to be confirmed for the ute, which would wade in against budget-priced Chinese rivals from GWM, LDV and JAC.
Few technical details of the KP11 are known, but Philippine publication AutoIndustriya claims there will be a choice of three propulsion types – none of which will use diesel fuel.
It claims the ute will offer a new 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, alongside a petrol plug-in hybrid – capable of electric-only driving, similar to the BYD Shark 6 – and a petrol range-extender variant, which prioritises its petrol engine for charging the battery.
Details of the engine, battery and driving range of the Chery ute’s hybrid variants are yet to be confirmed, as are outputs of the 2.4-litre turbo engine.
AutoIndustriya – which saw the concept in China and captured these images, posted to Instagram – reports there will be two versions of the new ute, the ‘Off-Road’ pictured here, and an ‘Urban’ grade.
The Off-Road variant is shown with ‘CHERY’ script on its grille, dual-tier LED headlights, a roof-top tent, BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres, side steps, and a rear bumper with steps for easy access to the tray, similar to the Ford Ranger.
The publication claims the KP11 – as it is codenamed – is planned to launch “sometime in 2025”, though it is unclear if the launch date applies to China or the Philippines.
A Chery ute for Australia has been rumoured for more than two years, and identified as on the wish list for executives of the brand.
A presentation to potential dealers in mid-2022 – prior to Chery’s local re-launch in early 2023 – and seen by Drive displayed plans for a “family PUP [pick-up]” dubbed J Series, due in the second half of 2023.
In late 2022, Drive reported Chery was preparing to sell a rebadged version of a ute from fellow Chinese manufacturer ZX Auto – with alleged spy photos published online – but it did not eventuate.
Plans were reportedly confirmed to Malaysian media earlier this year for a petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric ute under a new M Series brand, Paul Tan reports.
Chery International executive vice president Zhang Guibing told Drive in August 2024 that a dual-cab ute from the company is “in progress.”
“Because Australia is [one of our] strategic markets, so definitely we [will] consider it here,” he told Drive.
“But of course, what time we are launching is dependent on today’s Chery success. If [Chery’s success is] very good, we will introduce maybe [earlier]. If not, maybe we [are] a little delayed.”
MORE: Chery dual-cab ute ‘in progress’ but no closer to launch
Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris told Drive last month, when asked about plans for a ute: “There’s probably not too much to talk about at this stage.
“The wheels are turning and there is progress being made, but before we can really start pushing the envelope, the feedback that I get [from head office in China] is, ‘Please do a good job with what you have’.”
He confirmed Chery Australia has put forward its requirements for a ute to head office.
Chery has experience with utes through its Karry brand, but its only dual-cab, tray-backed model to date was derived from a small van, rather than a true body-on-frame, off-road-capable vehicle.
The post Chery ute revealed as concept, due in showrooms next year appeared first on Drive.
