R100,000 prize for the South African that names Chery’s new bakkie

Chery South Africa is offering R100,000 and a trip to China for the individual who submits the winning name for its upcoming bakkie.

Last week, TopAuto reported that Chery’s local branch had opened a new page on its website, allowing motorists to submit their ideas for the name of the new KP31 double-cab bakkie, which is expected to launch between late 2026 and early 2027.

“KP31” is the vehicle’s internal development code, and the Chinese carmaker has been running competitions in different markets to find suitable names for its latest creation.

In Australia, a naming campaign received over 20,000 submissions, which were narrowed to a list of final options including the Orca, Terra, Outrider, Ridgeback, Ironbark, Longreach, Bushwalker, and Mate.

However, the winning entry turned out to be the Stockman, the term for someone who looks after livestock at a station, which received over 25% of the final votes.

Chery is now running the same campaign in South Africa for the next two weeks, giving motorists a chance to come up with a name that has more Mzansi flavour.

The automaker revealed that the chosen name will be announced on the Media Day at the 2026 Festival of Motoring in Gauteng, which takes place at the end of August.

“Chery South Africa is calling on the public to help name its new bakkie in a nationwide competition that will give one South African the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the brand,” it said.

Additionally, Chery stated that the winning entrant will win R100,000 towards the purchase of any Chery vehicle and may also have the opportunity to travel to China this October.

However, it noted that this is subject to final confirmation and the competition’s terms and conditions.

“South Africans are inventive, expressive and rarely short of an opinion, particularly when it comes to their cars,” said Verene Petersen, National Marketing Manager at Chery South Africa.

“We could have introduced this bakkie with a name decided elsewhere, but we wanted to give South Africans a meaningful role in its story. The winning entry will go beyond the competition itself. It will become part of Chery’s journey in this country.”

Chery said that the competition draws on a familiar local tradition, as South Africans have long given their vehicles names that reflect how they look, how they perform or the role they play in their owners’ lives.

Individuals who wish to submit a name idea can visit Chery South Africa’s website at https://www.chery.co.za/bakkie-naming.

Entrants are required to input their first name, surname, phone number, and email address, and click to agree to a privacy policy and the terms and conditions. Submissions close on 24 August 2026.

What’s in store for South Africa

The soon-to-be-named bakkie is shaping up to be one of South Africa’s most powerful lifestyle vehicles when it goes on sale within the next few months.

It is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that pairs a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with two electric motors, resulting in a hefty output of 350kW and 800Nm.

This puts it in the same league as other hard-hitting pickups like the BYD Shark, Ford Ranger Raptor, and GWM P500 HEV, though it remains to be seen how its price will compare to its rivals.

In terms of equipment, the KP31 will be similarly upmarket, featuring leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, a digital instrument cluster, a floating infotainment screen, and a full Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite.