The new Chery Stockman is due later this year and will become Australia’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup.
Chery has settled on a name for its upcoming hybrid pickup truck. The production model, previewed earlier this year under the KP31 codename, will be called the Stockman. The name was chosen through a public contest in Australia that attracted more than 20,000 participants.
The winning entry came from Victoria resident Steve Kodikara. His suggestion, “Stockman,” beat out eight finalists, including Ironbark, Longreach, Bushwalker, Outrider, and Mate. As a reward, Kodikara will receive the keys to the very first production Stockman, which is scheduled to arrive in Australia before the end of the year.
Despite Chery’s announcement, the name itself is far from new. Suzuki used the Stockman badge beginning in the late 1970s on pickup versions of its LJ and Sierra (Jimny) off-roaders. Those vehicles were marketed as rugged four-wheel-drive farm trucks.
Mahindra also sold pickup models called Stockman in Australia during the early 1990s. They were based on Jeep underpinnings. However, neither automaker ever trademarked the name, leaving the door open for Chery to claim it.
In Chery’s defense, “stockman” is a traditional Australian term for a skilled ranch hand or livestock worker, making it a fitting name for a tough pickup truck.
Suzuki Australia has taken the move in stride. Managing director Michael Pachota joked that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
“We’re proud of the vehicles Suzuki built under the Stockman name and pleased that it remains memorable enough to inspire others,” Pachota said. “Other companies may use the name, but its place in Australian history will always be linked with Suzuki.”
The midsize Chery Stockman is scheduled to hit Australian roads in the fourth quarter of this year and will become the country’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup.
The crew-cab truck measures 214.6 inches long and features body-on-frame construction along with a rugged exterior design highlighted by round LED headlights, muscular fenders, and extensive black cladding.
Power comes from a 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine paired with electric motors. The truck will also feature four-wheel drive and three locking differentials. Chery has yet to release detailed specifications, but the company says the Stockman will offer a payload capacity of up to 2,200 pounds and a maximum towing rating of 7,700 pounds.
A more conventional gasoline-electric hybrid version will join the lineup next year. That model is expected to compete with electrified pickups already available in Australia, including the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha, and Ford Ranger PHEV.