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Future models - Chery - KP31Chery’s PHEV ute aimed squarely at AustraliaDeveloped with Aussie buyers front of mind, Chery diesel PHEV ute launches in Q423 Feb 2026 FOLLOWING in the chunky tyre treads of GWM, LDV, JAC, MG and Foton, Chery will become the next Chinese manufacturer to introduce a ute to its line-up, intended to debut in Australia and China during the fourth quarter of 2026 as a productionised version of the KP31 concept that was unveiled on local soil recently.
Developed with Australian buyers specifically in mind, Chery’s as-yet unnamed dual-cab utility will launch as a plug-in hybrid diesel – a world-first for a ute – backed by a claimed 1000kg payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity, underpinned by separate-chassis architecture and what is expected to be a leaf-sprung live rear axle.
In 2027, a more lifestyle-oriented version will follow with a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain and coil-sprung independent rear suspension to prioritise on-road comfort. In both cases, however, final specification is yet to be confirmed.
Concrete details about the production ute will remain scarce until an official announcement scheduled for May, although we know it will be 5450mm long (160mm shorter than the concept, which is also 1920mm wide and 1925mm tall), and Chery says a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine will support the launch ute’s plug-in-hybrid powertrain, with an electric-only range goal of more than 100km.
Speaking to GoAuto at the Australian unveiling of the KP31 ute concept, Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said the priority with the ute has been the diesel version and making that vehicle as capable as possible.
“We asked R&D to focus on the diesel, and primarily because we’ve got one chance, I think, to prove our capability and our credibility with a ute, and so the diesel is going to be our way to do that, particularly for off-road performance.
“Even though the vast majority of customers are not going to be using it off-road every day, the first thing that’s going to get looked at is: 'is it capable or not?’.
“So I think the diesel is the obvious option to prove that,” he said.
“If anyone is going to bring a ute to Australia, if it can’t deliver on the basic capabilities that Australians expect, whether they use it for those purposes or not, is irrelevant. It must be able to deliver so having the diesel powertrain, that low-down torque capability is critical, otherwise we’re not going to get the same off-road performance and towing and low-speed performance that you would otherwise get.”
Mr Harris confirmed that the production ute will use a different transmission to the three-speed DHT set-up in the Chery Tiggo 9 and Omoda 9 plug-in hybrids because these are transverse-engined vehicles with an SUV-focused transmission.
What we can extrapolate from that is the Chery ute will almost certainly feature a longitudinal engine configuration and, given that decent off-road performance is required, actual four-wheel drive hardware such as locking differentials and perhaps a low-range transfer case, rather than the traction-control-based all-wheel-drive system of the plug-in-hybrid BYD Shark 6 ute.
The Chery ute will also be offered in multiple versions and configurations.
“We’ll launch with all the bells and whistles, and everything that we can throw at it,” said Mr Harris.
“But certainly our intention is to also be able to offer options that are absolutely suitable for work sites and tradies, (while) making sure that we’ve got a competitive and compelling option there for fleet users as well.”
Although most likely launching without a cab-chassis version direct from the factory, unlike PHEV utes from BYD, GWM and Ford, the Chery pick-up’s rear tub section has been designed to be removable.
Mr Harris also confirmed that the styling of the production ute will be “very close” to the retro-flavoured KP31 concept, meaning a Ford Bronco-inspired front end (though with more grille curvature) featuring circular LED headlights and – on the concept – illuminated Chery lettering with three small horizontal light bars sited above.
The KP31 features a handsome, rounded-off square body shape with boxed guards and wheelarch extensions, and a flexible rack system in the rear tray for carrying longer items.
Expect the production version to share the body styling and potentially offer the tray accessories (as per the Ford Ranger’s flexible rack system).
The concept also features matte-grey paint and very cool 17-inch alloys with red detailing and a honeycomb-style pattern, wearing serious BF Goodrich All-Terrain knobbly tyres in a 285/70R17 size.
The (non-functioning) KP31 tailgate features Chery lettering across a metallicised matte-charcoal inset panel, plus striking vertical taillights bisected by a gridded centre section.
If the overall look reaches production, Chery’s dual-cab ute will almost certainly receive a warmer reception than Kia’s polarising Tasman – another vehicle designed with Australia in mind.
As for the production name for KP31, Chery Australia is in a good position to dictate what that might be, given this market’s expected volume dominance – “we’re working on it” being the official response.
But Mr Harris confirmed that even the ute’s wheel-stud pattern and offset were chosen by Australians after China asked what arrangement we would like – emphasising Chery’s acknowledgement of the model’s importance here.
“We will be the first international market – I believe they’ll launch in China at around the same time,” said Mr Harris.
“The head of the product development for the ute, every week, without fail, we’re communicating. Like a very senior guy in the organisation. I’m basically nobody in the global (Chery) organisation, so if he’s making time to talk to me, then he’s definitely, I think, taking us seriously and is committed to the market.”
As for whether Chery is also considering a body-on-frame SUV wagon based on the KP31 (echoing the relationship between Ford’s Everest and Ranger and Isuzu’s D-Max and MU-X), Mr Harris said it was too early to say.
“I mean, it’s not currently being discussed, but, you know, like everything for Chery, never say never. It’d be great to have it. You know, (the ute is) a great-looking vehicle, and I think if we did have an SUV variant, I think it could be quite popular – particularly if it came with the (same) capability (of the ute),” he said.
Given the KP31 ute’s importance to this market, Chery Australia plans to drip-feed information leading up to its Q4 market debut.
So there are currently plans for a further specification reveal in May 2026.  All future modelsMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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