Electric Chery Stockman ute technically possible, chief engineer says
Chery Stockman chief engineer Mark Qi says the ute’s platform could take a battery electric powertrain, but the focus for now is the diesel plug-in hybrid.
An electric version of Chery’s Stockman ute is technically possible, according to the ute’s chief engineer, though it isn’t the priority and has not been confirmed.
Australian and New Zealand media asked Stockman chief engineer Mark Qi about the platform’s future in Wuhu, China.
“We have the capability to do a BEV, but it’s not sure. For now the focus is on the diesel PHEV,” Qi says.
The platform was designed to take several powertrains. Qi says it suits a petrol plug-in hybrid, a diesel plug-in hybrid or a conventional diesel.
“This platform is okay for a petrol PHEV, a diesel PHEV, even a conventional diesel. For the pick-up in Mexico, for example, some people like petrol, so this platform is okay for them too,” he says.
Chery also designed the platform to carry a three-row SUV, though one hasn’t been confirmed either.
“The platform has the capability to also be used for an SUV, just like the Hilux and the Fortuner, and the Ranger and the Everest. When we designed the platform, we already considered an SUV,” Qi says. “It’s not clear now. We know this platform has the capability to develop an SUV, but there are so many things to decide, like what the brand would be, the price and other things.”
He wouldn’t say which powertrain an SUV would use, saying that depends on the brand and the markets it is aimed at.
Chery has said a diesel-only Stockman is under consideration, and Qi says that decision will wait on how the plug-in hybrid is received.
“For Australia, do we need to choose a diesel ICE or not? It’s not sure now. We need feedback on the Stockman diesel PHEV when it launches,” he says.
Qi adds that Chery is still working with its Australian team to lift the plug-in’s payload towards the one-tonne figure it originally targeted.
The Stockman pairs a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel with a plug-in hybrid system for 350kW and 800Nm combined. It is due in New Zealand in the first quarter of 2027, with pricing still to be confirmed. Qi walked us around the ute in Wuhu, and he explains why it uses a diesel here.
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