Chery South Africa has launched a public campaign for its upcoming KP31 bakkie, inviting motorists to submit their ideas for the vehicle’s name when it goes on sale here, either in late 2026 or early 2027.
Unveiled earlier this year, the KP31 is one of two new pickups that Chery plans to bring to South Africa in the near future, the other being the Himla.
“KP31” is the vehicle’s internal development name, but it has been referred to with this designation up till now because it lacks an official nameplate.
Chery is evidently using this as an opportunity to come up with different names tailored for each market, as the automaker recently held a competition in Australia where motorists could submit their ideas.
Over 20,000 submissions were made, which were then narrowed down to a list of finalists that included names like the Orca, Terra, Outrider, Ridgeback, Ironbark, Longreach, Bushwalker, and Mate.
However, the winning name turned out to be the Stockman, a term for someone who looks after livestock at a station, which received over 25% of the roughly 12,000 votes cast.
Given the success of the campaign in the Land Down Under, it’s unsurprising to see that Chery is now doing the same thing here.
On Chery South Africa’s official website, there is a new banner ad for the KP31 stating “It’s whatever Mzansi calls it!,” along with a link in the bottom left corner inviting people to suggest a name.
Clicking on the link opens a new page calling on motorists to “give South Africa’s next favourite bakkie its name.”
“South Africans don’t just drive their vehicles – we name them, personalise them, and make them part of the family,” said the company.
“The new Chery bakkie is arriving with everything Mzansi needs, except one important thing: a name. This is your chance to give a future favourite its identity.”
Anyone who wants to submit a name idea also needs to enter their first name, surname, phone number, and email address, and click to agree to a privacy policy and the terms and conditions.
A Stockman by any other name
Whatever it ends up being called, the KP31 is set to become one of South Africa’s most powerful bakkies when it hits the market.
Chery confirmed that the double cab will be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), pairing a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with two electric motors.
This setup generates a combined output of 350kW and 800Nm, substantially more than the 210kW and 650Nm previously reported by CarNewsChina.
To put that in perspective, the most powerful pickup on sale in South Africa right now is the BYD Shark 6 Performance PHEV, which produces 350kW and 700Nm.
In other words, the KP31 will be right at the top of the country’s bakkie hierarchy when it reaches showrooms, competing with the Shark and other top dogs like the Ford Ranger Raptor or GWM P500 HEV.
The company has yet to disclose the other aspects of the KP31’s powertrain beyond the fact that it will have an electric range of 100km.
Similarly, the spec sheet will only be announced at launch, but early images and previews indicate that it will be an upmarket vehicle with two-tone leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, two wireless charging pads, a digital driver display, and a large floating infotainment screen.
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