Features / 1 May 2025 / Michael Taylor

First look at the new Chery bakkie coming to South Africa – Photos

Chery recently unveiled several new exciting models across its various brands, from high-performance sedans to electric SUVs, but one vehicle that stood out in particular is an all-new bakkie known as the Himla.

Named after the Himalayan mountain range, the Himla is the Chinese automaker’s first foray into the world of leisure pickup trucks, and the good news is that it is coming to South Africa.

TopAuto recently had the chance to see this vehicle in person at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show and other Chery-hosted events on a trip to China, where we were given further insights into what we can expect from this upcoming model.

What to look forward to

For now, Chery is keeping most details about the Himla’s capabilities under wraps, though we were able to extract a few details about the bakkie from speaking to company representatives.

The single most important attribute to take note of is that the Chery will feature a diesel engine, which is fairly unusual for a Chinese model.

Diesel is not an especially popular fuel source in the People’s Republic, making it a rare to find a diesel engine on any models exported from the region.

Of course, diesel is the go-to power source for all of the fan-favourite bakkies sold in countries like South Africa and Australia – such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux – which means Chinese carmakers are starting to come around to the idea of making these engines for export markets.

The Himla is no exception, as a company representative confirmed that the pickup is primarily intended for export and that it will feature a turbocharged diesel block in response to customer feedback and demand.

The specs of this powertrain are still to be confirmed, but the individual we spoke to said it will be a 2.0-litre turbo block with power and towing capabilities on par with its international competitors.

In South Africa, the Chery’s main rival will likely be the GWM P-Series, which uses a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel mill with 120kW and 400Nm, and a towing capacity of 1,200kg.

Alternatively, it could go up against the more powerful P300, which uses a larger 2.4-litre drivetrain with 135kW and 480Nm, letting it tow up to 3,000kg.

A spokesperson confirmed that the Himla will also be made available with a hybrid and electric powertrain, but that these options will appear at a much later date.

What’s more, the midsize Himla is not the only bakkie that the automaker is working on, as it also plans to produce a larger full-size pickup akin to something like the Ford F-150 sold in America.

The Himla’s pricing is still unknown, but early impressions suggest that the Chery will be a mid to upmarket offering based on the features shown.

The interior is decked out in two-tone black-and-brown leather upholstery, and there’s a massive infotainment screen on the dashboard along with physical toggle shortcut switches for things like the hazard lights and climate control.

It also has keyless entry and start, an electronic handbrake, a leather multifunction steering wheel, a digital driver display, dual wireless charging ports, and a dial in the centre console for selecting the car’s 4×4 settings – 2H, 4H, and 4L.

Outside, the bakkie features a set of slim LED headlights and daytime running lights, 19-inch alloys, underbody protection, a large grille with black Chery lettering, a sports bar, and integrated footrests for reaching into the load bed, similar to the Ford Ranger.

The Himla has also been designed with extensive customization options in mind, which were showcased at a media event in Chery’s hometown of Wuhu.

The display model was decked out with a number of outdoor-themed accessories, such as an overhead lighting rig, electronic side steps that fold under the car when the doors are closed, a large roof box, a side awning with a hammock, and a small water tank with a powered hose.

The Chery Himla is confirmed for South Africa, but you’ll have to wait to get your hands on it as it is only expected to appear in 2026.