Bakkie enthusiasts can expect no less than three new models from Chery in the near future.
The Chinese carmaker relaunched in South Africa in 2021 and has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular brands on the market, even though it doesn’t sell a single bakkie.
This will soon change, however, as Chery is looking to enter the light commercial vehicle space with not one, not two, but three brand-new models, all of which have their own unique selling points.
This includes the Himla, the KP31, and the Tiggo V, the latter of which is quite unusual due to its modular design.
All three models are confirmed for South Africa, and the good news is that we won’t have to wait much longer, as the first units are scheduled to make their debut in the fourth quarter of 2026.
A trio of bakkies
First up is the Himla, which is Chery’s answer to the highly-popular midsize bakkie segment, currently dominated by models like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.
Depending on the market, the Himla will feature either a 2.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 120kW and 420Nm, or a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with 118kW and 230Nm.
The automaker has yet to confirm which options will be made available in South Africa, though it’s fair to assume the diesel option is the more likely of the two.
The Himla will also feature both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.
Chery previously told TopAuto that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model is in development, but that it will still be a while before we see this option.
The spec sheet and pricing will only be confirmed closer to launch, but based on our early preview experiences in China, the Himla will have several upmarket features.
A few of the nice-to-haves that you can expect include a digital driver display, a large floating infotainment screen, a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, and two-tone leather upholstery.
Moving on, the second bakkie lined up for our market is the KP31, a PHEV diesel double cab that will likely slot above the Himla in South Africa.
Bear in mind that KP31 is the vehicle’s internal development name, so it may get a different title by the time it goes on sale here.
In Australia, the KP31 will be called the Stockman, but it remains to be seen whether Chery South Africa will give the vehicle a different name here.
In any case, the KP31 is a PHEV that combines a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with an electric motor, which reportedly generates up to 350kW and 800Nm.
Bear in mind, this is even more than the BYD Shark Performance, which would make it the most powerful bakkie in South Africa.
The Shark will undoubtedly be its main competitor, and the KP31 should be able to match it on specs with features like a large flat-bottom steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, a floating touchscreen, two-tone leather upholstery, suede cabin surfaces, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and a large centre console with two charging pads.
Last but certainly not least, we have the Tiggo V, which is technically an SUV, though it has an unusual feature.
The Tiggo V, unveiled at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, is an SUV with a modular design that allows it to function as either a seven-seater people carrier with a 2+3+2 seating configuration, or a double-cab bakkie.
The latter is possible because the back cover can be removed entirely, creating a small, external load bed separate from the cabin.
Most of the V’s specs are still unknown, including the engine and its load-carrying capacity. We also don’t know what the interior looks like, as the models at the Auto Show had blacked-out windows, and the media were barred from taking interior photos during test drives.
Chery Himla
Chery Tiggo V
Chery KP31 (Stockman)
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