Chery’s diesel PHEV ute finally has a name: Stockman. A Victorian submitted it, more than 12,000 Australians voted for it, and it beat eight other contenders to claim the badge.
The Chery Stockman is official. After more than 20,000 public submissions, a shortlist of nine names, and a public vote that drew over 12,000 participants, Chery Australia has crowned the winning entry. Steve Kodikara from Victoria takes home bragging rights and, more importantly, the first Stockman off the boat when deliveries begin later this year.
Stockman pulled more than 25 per cent of votes cast in the final public poll. That is not a close result. The runner-up field included Outrider, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Orca, Terra, and Mate. Good names, but none of them stuck like this one.
Full disclosure: I put my own name in the running. My suggestion was ‘Apex’.
It works on two levels: top of the pack in a segment that desperately needs a shake-up, and built to reach the apex of any terrain you point it at. But Chery saw things differently as it didn’t even make the shortlist. Oh Well! Maybe next time!
Why It Works
The stockman is a real Australian archetype: a skilled, self-reliant worker who operates in harsh terrain with minimal support and consistent results. Kodikara drew that parallel explicitly in his submission, framing the ute as a vehicle built on the same principles of reliability and endurance. Chery COO Lucas Harris said Stockman stood out because it connected Australia’s heritage with next-generation ute technology. That is exactly the positioning Chery needs for what is a genuinely new kind of vehicle.
The naming competition was smart strategy. Over 20,000 entries and more than 12,000 votes across the public phase. Getting the public to argue passionately about what to call one is a reasonable way to shift that. Whether it translates to sales is a different question.
The shortlist itself was well curated. Orca was a pointed dig at the BYD Shark. Longreach carries the weight of Australia’s rural heartland and a former Ford Falcon nameplate. Ironbark is tough and distinctly Australian. Chery had clearly done its homework on what resonates with this market. That they ended up with Stockman suggests the public got it right.
What the Stockman Actually Is
The Chery Stockman will be Australia’s first diesel plug-in hybrid ute when it lands in Q4 2026. Brands such as Mercedes-Benz sell diesel PHEVs in some markets globally, but this will be the first time one has appeared in the ute class anywhere in the world.
The powertrain centres on a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine claiming 47% thermal efficiency, a 10% improvement in fuel consumption over the average diesel, and a 30% reduction in vibration and NVH compared to conventional diesel utes. Those are Chery’s numbers and should be treated as targets until independent testing confirms them. But the direction is clear: this is a ute designed to address the two main complaints about diesels without abandoning the format.
Locking front, centre and rear differentials are confirmed, alongside leaf-sprung rear suspension on the diesel PHEV variant. That last detail matters for towing and payload stability. Towing capacity is rated at 3500kg and payload at 1000kg, matching class leaders including the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. The platform also features locking front, centre and rear differentials.
It has been reported it will feature a claimed electric driving range of up to 170 km, though Chery has not officially confirmed that figure, and given the battery size has not been disclosed, treat it as indicative for now. A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV variant will follow in 2027, with non-PHEV diesel and petrol engines also under consideration. The petrol PHEV will come with coil-spring rear suspension, differentiating it from the diesel variant mechanically as well as in powertrain.
Australia is the global launch market. Chery is not piloting the Stockman here before deciding whether to take it elsewhere. The production version will measure 5450 mm long, 1920 mm wide and 1925 mm tall, placing it squarely in HiLux and Ranger territory on dimensions. The interior prototype shown earlier this year featured a large touchscreen, digital driver display, and suede trim throughout. Chery has cautioned that final interior specification is still to be confirmed.
Where It Sits in the Market
The Stockman arrives into a segment that is moving fast. The BYD Shark 6 has already demonstrated there is genuine appetite for PHEV utes in Australia. The Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV are both established in the market. What none of them offer is a diesel PHEV. That is the Stockman’s entire pitch: the efficiency and electric capability of a PHEV with the torque delivery and long-range fuelling familiarity of diesel that Australian ute buyers will trust.
The BYD Shark 6 starts at $57,900 drive-away, while the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV begins at $69,990. Chery has not announced pricing for the Stockman. Positioning it competitively within that range would be the logical play. Undercut the Shark, undercut the Cannon, and let the diesel powertrain do the talking.
Expected Specifications
| Spec | Chery Stockman (Diesel PHEV) |
|---|---|
| Price | TBC |
| Engine | 2.5L Turbo Diesel + Electric Motor |
| EV Range (claimed) | Up to 170 km |
| Battery | TBC |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500 kg |
| Payload | 1,000 kg |
| Thermal Efficiency | 47% (claimed) |
| Rear Suspension | Leaf spring |
| Differentials | Locking front, centre and rear |
| Dimensions (L/W/H mm) | 5,450 / 1,920 / 1,925 |
| Drive | 4WD |
| Launch Market | Australia (Q4 2026) |
| Petrol PHEV Variant | 2027 (2.0L turbo petrol, coil-spring rear) |
What Comes Next
Pricing, full specifications and a confirmed launch date remain outstanding. Chery has said those details will land closer to market introduction. The Stockman will compete directly with the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV, and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, with the diesel powertrain as its primary point of difference. In a segment where most PHEV entries rely on petrol, that distinction matters.
The name is confirmed. The ute is coming. The harder work starts when it hits the road.
