We already know Chery is working on a ute and possibly two utes, including a soft-roader version based on a monocoque, and a more heavy-duty version to tackle the likes of the Toyota HiLux. Now we hear Australia is likely getting the latter.
In an interview with Chery Australia’s chief operating officer, Lucas Harris, we asked about the new ute and what Australia would likely get out of the two expected models in the works. Harris said:
“I think from a local market perspective, having a proper – or what Australians would deem a proper ladder-frame chassis – heavy-duty ute is obviously going to be the preference. But I still wonder, and I don’t know the answer, but I wonder if having a more passenger-style ute also has a place.”
By that Harris means a vehicle based on a monocoque platform like an SUV, with independent suspension and a lower payload and towing capacity than a typical ute. However, with improved comfort and on-road dynamics. Something like the Hyundai Santa Cruz, sold in America. Harris said:
“They are very popular in South Africa and Southeast Asia, those sort of passenger utes are quite popular. Maybe they could be here as well. The last of them were your Ford and Holdens, and they haven’t really been done again since.”
So, by the sounds of it, Chery Australia is interested in a softer ute, although the focus, at least initially, looks set to be on the heavy-duty HiLux rival.
In terms of the powertrain options for the heavy-duty model, we’ve heard there will be a plug-in hybrid package, and potentially a fully electric package, likely further down the track. Speaking about the options, Harris said:
“We’d have to see what the specifics around the technology for the EV were to work out would it work here or not. I think plug-in is a more realistic option.”
As we’ve seen with the LDV eT60 fully electric ute, the Australian market does not seem interested in such a concept. During 2023, LDV sold just 79 examples of the 4×2 T60, which includes the eT60, according to VFACTS figures. And VFACTS doesn’t separate the eT60 from the regular T60 for 4×2, which means actual sales of the electric version could have been much lower than 79. Harris said:
“Well you need a huge amount of payload, you need to be able to have a big towing capacity and all that. It’s all good and well to have a frame, and it looks like a ute, but it can only [offer an] 80kg payload and it can only tow 1500kg. Well it’s not really a ute then is it.”
Details on the plug-in hybrid are still unclear but it could use the company’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol from the Tiggo 8, which produces 180kW alone. Pair that with an electric motor and you’ve got yourself a decent amount of power – over 200kW – quite easily, and strong torque. We’ll have to wait and see to know for sure.
As for the name? It could be anything at this stage. Chery currently holds a number of trademarks in Australia for various names, listed under class 12: Automobiles; electric vehicles, cars. Some include Couggo, Coogaar, and Fulwin. These don’t necessarily confirm production models but they could provide some clues.
The Chery ute is expected to go on sale in Australia some time later in 2025 or early 2026.
