The new Chery bakkie that will be built in South Africa

Chery South Africa confirmed in a social media post that the locally named Grootman bakkie will also be built locally starting next year.

Earlier this year, the Chinese auto giant took over Nissan’s Rosslyn production plant in Pretoria, where bakkies like the NP300 Hardbody, NP200, and Navara were built for years.

Following some brand-specific upgrades at the facility, it will begin producing several vehicles at the plant in 2027, including the now-confirmed Grootman.

“You don’t give a bakkie a name like Grootman and then build it anywhere else,” the Chinese manufacturer said in its post.

“The name came from South Africans. Now the most South African Chinese bakkie will be built by South Africans, right here at our Rosslyn plant in 2027.”

Following the announcement of the bakkie’s local name, having previously been referred to as the KP31, Chery said it is meant to encapsulate a vehicle used to build a business and represent dependability.

“Chery brings its Chinese heritage and global engineering expertise to this bakkie, and we wanted South Africans to have a hand in shaping its identity here,” said Jay Jay Botes, General Manager for Chery South Africa.

“Grootman is a word people use with respect, often for someone who has worked hard to get where they are and can be counted on.”

“Having South Africans choose it makes the name particularly meaningful, and we recognise that it comes with expectations we will have to live up to.”

While the Grootman’s final local specifications, pricing, and model selection remain under wraps, we do know it will be a plug-in hybrid, built on a dedicated platform.

The system combines a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with an electric motor in a four-wheel-drive system, producing 350kW and 800Nm, making it one of South Africa’s most powerful bakkies.

The bakkie has a confirmed electric range of 100km on the NEDC cycle, or 85km on the more widely accepted WLTP cycle.

Its power enables a 3,500kg towing capacity, while the Grootman boasts a decent load bin, measuring 1,560mm long and wide, with a 500mm depth, and a 230mm ground clearance when fully loaded.

One of many Chery models built at Rosslyn

The first models built by the Chery group at the Rosslyn plant, which will include the Grootman, are expected to roll off the assembly line by mid-2027.

According to the manufacturer, the “ramp-up period” will see it produce up to 15,000 units across its brands, before hitting 50,000 units per annum at full capacity.

So far, five Chery vehicles have been approved for local production alongside the Grootman, including the popular Jetour T-Series, comprising the T1 and T2.

The SUV-builder confirmed in April that it would produce both models at the Rosslyn plant, thanks to their local popularity and success.

“The increasingly popular T-Series, launched in South Africa in October last year, will begin local production at the plant from next year,” Jetour said at the time.

Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa also confirmed that the Jaecoo J5 will form part of the core production line-up at Chery Group’s first South African manufacturing plant.

These are not the only Chery models that will be built locally, with Chery planning to produce the Chery Tiggo Cross and the Lepas L4 at the Rosslyn plant.

Most of these models are the entry-level offerings from their respective brands and are among the best-sellers in their segments, making them perfect for local introduction.

Beyond these, Chery still has big plans for South Africa, as confirmed by Junfeng Shen, Assistant General Manager of Chery Tech.

He explained that acquiring the plant formed part of Phase 1 of the company’s global “3+1” market expansion strategy in South Africa.

According to Shen, initial localisation phase will focus on intelligent electronics, body and chassis systems, interior and exterior trim, and specialised integration modules.

Long-term plans, discussed at the Automotive Industry Development Centre in Rosslyn earlier this year, include local production of new energy vehicle (NEV) components, as Chery intends to produce hybrid vehicles locally.