CarExpert has been given an early preview of Chery’s first dual-cab ute Down Under, a model being developed jointly between Australia and China ahead of a local launch expected late next year.
Closely related to China’s Rely KP3X (another brand under the Chery umbrella), the vehicle will ride on a new ladder-frame platform and is designed to compete head-on with segment leaders like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
It will also face a fast-growing list of Chinese rivals, including the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha, JAC T9, LDV T60 and Terron 9, and the recently launched MG U9.
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Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris told CarExpert the project has involved Australian input from the outset, with local tuning and validation work planned to commence before production begins.
“For the ute that’s been developed currently, it’s very much a joint effort between Australia and China, and I think we’ll be the first two markets to get that new [model] from a volume perspective,” Mr Harris said.
CarExpert believes the ute will be available in the Chinese market with petrol, diesel, petrol plug-in hybrid and diesel plug-in hybrid powertrains, making it one of the most diverse powertrain lineups in the segment.
At this stage, there are strong indications that Australia will opt for the diesel plug-in hybrid option, combining the pulling power of a diesel engine with the efficiency of a hybrid.
Expected to deliver a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity and a circa one-tonne payload, the Chery will line up squarely against Australia’s best-selling utes in both work and lifestyle configurations.
Mr Harris said the ute will be one of the company’s most significant vehicles for Australia, describing it as central to the brand’s next phase of growth.
“If we’re not trying to do 1000 a month in that huge segment, then why bring one?” he said.
CarExpert believes the model will launch first in China before reaching Australian showrooms late in 2026, with pricing and specifications to be revealed closer to launch.
If it hits its 1000-a-month target, the new ute could quickly become one of Chery’s core models — and its first true rival to Australia’s best-known workhorses.
Chinese vs Non-Chinese Ute Sales (Jan–Oct 2025)
| Origin | Ute sales (Jan–Oct 2025) | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 32,084 | 17.1% |
| Other | 155,360 | 82.9% |
| Total ute market | 187,444 | 100% |
models account for roughly one in six utes sold in Australia this year to date, a remarkable footprint in what’s traditionally the country’s most conservative segment.
A table of ute sales year to date (Jan-Oct 2025) is below, with the offerings from China bolded for context.
| Rank | Ute Model | Jan–Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 46,452 |
| 2 | Toyota HiLux | 45,257 |
| 3 | Isuzu D-Max | 22,615 |
| 4 | Mitsubishi Triton | 15,795 |
| 5 | BYD Shark 6 | 15,181 |
| 6 | Mazda BT-50 | 12,410 |
| 7 | GWM Cannon | 8249 |
| 8 | Nissan Navara | 6539 |
| 9 | Volkswagen Amarok | 4649 |
| 10 | LDV T60 | 3699 |
| 11 | Chevrolet Silverado | 3126 |
| 12 | RAM 1500 | 2321 |
| 13 | GWM Cannon Alpha | 2053 |
| 14 | JAC T9 | 1362 |
| 15 | Ram 2500 | 448 |
| 16 | LDV Terron 9 | 399 |
| 17 | MG U9 | 141 |
| 18 | Ram 3500 | 12 |