Chery is set to launch an all-new off-road dual-cab ute later this year, featuring the first diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain in the segment.
Known by its internal model code, KP31, the as-yet-unnamed Chery ute will initially launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with plug-in hybrid technology, offering up to 170 kilometres of electric driving range – though exact figures remain unknown.
Chery hasn’t confirmed specifications for the production model, but earlier reports out of China suggest the company’s 2.5-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine produces 210kW and 650Nm.
Company executives claim the combination of a diesel engine and plug-in hybrid technology will provide significant benefits for drivers, including a better power-to-weight ratio and reduced noise and vibration.
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A petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain will be added to the lineup in 2027, competing directly with the BYD Shark 6.
The KP31 is set to offer 1000kg of payload, with a braked towing capacity of up to 3500kg.
Designed with Australia’s market in mind, Chery has confirmed the ute will come with front, centre, and rear locking differentials, and is also expected to feature off-road modes and a low-range gearbox – all of which should contribute to its capability in the bush.
While exact details have yet to be confirmed, a rolling mock-up prototype showed the vehicle with a tight-turn feature – similar to the Trail Turn Assist available on Ford utes – which locks up the rear inside wheel to help pivot the vehicle around loose hairpin corners.
The rolling prototype also features front and rear bash plates, recovery points, and a snorkel, with the concept being “very close” to the final production car.
The tyres, wheel size, offset, and six-stud pattern were said to be based on the combined wish-lists of several Australian off-road tyre specialists, who were surveyed by Chery’s local representatives before the information was passed to its Chinese engineers.
Chery has clearly taken inspiration for the ute’s design from the Ford Bronco, but the rear-end has also borrowed some of the best design elements from rivals – with integrated steps for easy access.
The tub also sits high enough above the chassis to ensure the tub has minimal intrusion from the wheel arches.
CarExpert understands pricing has yet to be locked in, while company officials side-stepped the question of a pure-electric version of the dual-cab ute in the future.
As previously reported, the ute sits on the ‘Kaitan’ ladder-frame chassis, which has been created to accommodate internal-combustion engines, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains.
“It will be designed around Australia’s needs and wants – so long-distance driving, towing with payload, multi-terrain use, with an added emphasis on efficiency and, of course, capability,” said Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris.
“In Australia, one of the most important measures for a ute – and it is very simple – is ‘can it do the job?’. So that’s why our platform targets are very clear.
“We must have a 1000-kilo payload, and we must have a three-and-a-half-tonne towing, which is what we will deliver when we launch this ute,” Mr Harris told media, including CarExpert.
At this point, details of the ute’s interior are under wraps.
The Chery ute was originally shown in late 2025 at the Chengdu motor show as a model under Chery’s Rely brand, alongside a slightly smaller electric ute known as the KP2X.
At the same time, Rely confirmed it was working on a KP4X ute – which could target US pickups like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500.
MORE: Explore the Chery showroom
