At least six new bakkies are set to make their debut in South Africa.
As you may already suspect, most of the new entries lined up for our market are from Chinese brands looking to expand their presence in one of the country’s most lucrative segments.
This includes a brand-new carmaker called Riddara, as well as familiar names like JAC and JMC.
Chery is also planning to break into the market this year with its first two bakkies, and Kia has a luxurious double cab that’s been in the pipeline for quite some time.
Chery Himla
First up is the Chery Himla, a midsize double cab that is set to take on the industry’s big hitters like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
The company hasn’t shared too many details about the car itself; however, when we attended a preview event in Wuhu, China last year, a representative confirmed that it will feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine on par with its rivals.
They also said it will eventually be offered with a petrol-hybrid and an electric powertrain, but that these options are still in early development.
The vehicle itself is fairly upmarket with features like two-tone leather seats, two wireless charging pads, dual-zone climate control, a digital driver display, and a massive floating infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard.
Chery KP31
Chery also has a second bakkie lined up for South Africa, which is set to appear in late 2026 or early 2027.
This model doesn’t have an official name yet, and is currently being referred to by its development code – KP31.
What makes the KP31 interesting is its powertrain, as it will feature a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system.
Diesel hybrids are quite rare, as diesel engines are usually more fuel-efficient than petrol ones to begin with, and electric motors complement petrol engines quite nicely by making up for their lack of torque.
Chery hasn’t shared the drivetrain’s power and torque stats, but did note that it has a payload capacity of 1,000kg and a towing capacity of 3,500kg.
It also has front, centre, and rear differential locks, a low-range gearbox, dedicated off-road driving modes, and a tight-turn function.
All of this suggests that the KP31 will likely be a more serious 4×4 alternative to the Himla when it reaches South Africa.
JAC T9 PHEV
JAC previously announced that it would launch the long-awaited PHEV version of the T9 double cab in the first quarter of 2026, meaning it should appear any day now, assuming it hasn’t been quietly delayed.
It is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and two electric motors, which combined to produce an impressive 290kW and 670Nm.
This will make it one of the most powerful bakkies alongside the BYD Shark and the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Since its a plug-in hybrid, it also features a 31.2kWh battery with an electric driving range of 100km.
JMC Grand Avenue
JMC relaunched in South Africa in November last year, bringing back the affordable Vigus bakkie.
This roster will soon be bolstered by the arrival of the new Grand Avenue, which has near-identical proportions to the Ford Ranger.
That’s not a coincidence, as JMC and the Blue Oval are officially partnered in China.
As a result, the Grand Avenue will feature one of two Ford-sourced engines – a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol block with 190kW and 450Nm, and a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel unit with 130kW and 450Nm.
Kia Tasman
Arguably the most high-profile entry on this list, the Tasman is a new pickup from the South Korean automaker that has garnered a lot of attention from its bold appearance.
The Tasman was announced all the way back in October 2024, and Kia previously said that it could launch in South Africa by mid-2025.
However, it did caution that this launch window was optimistic and that it was more likely we’d receive it in 2026.
So while it may have been a long wait, the good news is that the bakkie should make its appearance in the near future.
It uses the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel plant found in the Sorento, which generates 148kW and 440Nm.
While Kia has made no mention of the price, early previews indicate it will be a premium model with features like heated and ventilated leather seats, two wireless chargers, and an extended 12.3-inch + 5-inch + 12.3-inch widescreen monitor on the dashboard.
Riddara RD6
Last but not least is Riddara, which is a new Chinese car brand specializing in new-energy vehicles.
Riddara is one of three new brands that its parent company Geely plans to launch in South Africa this year alongside Farizon and Zeekr.
Its first vehicle, the Riddara RD6, is an all-electric bakkie that will be locally distributed by Enviro Automotive.
It will be available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive specifications with one or two e-motors, respectively.
The top-spec AWD version, which we got to sample recently, produces 315kW and 595Nm and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
This version is sold with one of two batteries, a 73kWh cell with a range of 424km, or an 85kWh pack with 455km on tap.
While the vehicle’s final price list hasn’t been revealed, Enviro Automotive did confirm that prices will range from under R700,000 for the base units to over a R1 million for the flagship.
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