Chery explains how the Stockman diesel PHEV ute will keep its DPF clean ahead of February 2027 launch

Chery's answer to the diesel-in-a-PHEV question

Chery says its Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid ute can keep its diesel engine running to charge the battery and support diesel particulate filter regeneration even when there is enough electric power available. Speaking to CarExpert and other Australian media in China, Stockman chief product manager Mark Qi said: "Even if there is enough electric power, we keep the engine working for a while. First, it can keep charging the battery. Second, it is good for the exhaust system." A DPF traps soot in the exhaust and cleans itself with heat, and short journeys with repeated engine shutdowns make regeneration harder for conventional diesels. ¹

AutoTrader's Richard Edwards, reporting from the same media briefing in China, adds detail on how the electric side of the powertrain addresses the conditions that clog a filter in the first place. According to that report, Qi said the P1 electric motor on the engine's crankshaft can quickly bring the diesel up to a good operating speed rather than letting it idle at 700-800rpm, keeping it in its hotter, more efficient range with surplus energy recovered to the battery. Qi also told AutoTrader that Chery's testing suggests everyday owners should not notice the filter regenerating, and that electric assist extends the distance travelled between AdBlue top-ups at highway speeds. ⁶

Qi told CarExpert the system relies on exhaust gas heat alone. "Only the exhaust gas. We don't have special equipment to heat the DPF," he said. He also said the engine can support regeneration while stationary: "Even when you are not driving, if the engine is charging the battery, it can also do the work needed to regenerate the DPF." He did not specify how often regeneration would occur or how long the engine would need to run. ¹

A sceptical rival and a familiar face

The DPF question had been raised publicly by a competitor. AutoTrader reports that at the launch of the petrol-powered GWM Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid, GWM Australia and New Zealand product planning manager Tim Leong listed the Stockman among the Cannon's rivals and asked how Chery would manage a diesel's DPF with an engine switching on and off in a plug-in hybrid, noting GWM is also developing a diesel hybrid and diesel plug-in powertrain. ⁶

AutoTrader notes Qi previously held the same chief engineer role on the Cannon at GWM, leaving before the Cannon Hi4-T was developed. On transmission strategy, Qi told CarExpert the Stockman uses two electric motors and a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, chosen partly because the diesel can drive the wheels mechanically. During development Chery also benchmarked Mercedes-Benz's diesel PHEV to confirm a diesel PHEV could be done, though Qi said the engine and powertrain layout differ. ¹⁶

Preliminary powertrain and capability figures

Chery's preliminary Australian specifications list a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel paired with a 34kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and two electric motors, for total system outputs of 350kW and 800Nm. Claimed electric-only range is 96km on the WLTC test cycle. Chery Australia's current Stockman page also lists a preliminary combined fuel consumption figure of 1.1L/100km. Braked towing capacity is listed at 3495kg (unbraked 750kg), with a 6500kg gross combination mass. The ute has double-wishbone front suspension, leaf springs at the rear, locking front, centre and rear differentials, crawl control, tight-turn assist, standard all-terrain tyres and at least 247mm of ground clearance at full load. These figures are preliminary and subject to change pending final certification, as Chery Australia's own material notes. ¹²³

Some earlier figures differ. CarExpert's October 1 report on the reservation launch listed up to 100km of electric range under the NEDC standard, combined fuel use of 2.0L/100km and 3500kg braked towing, while the manufacturer's current page states 96km WLTC, 1.1L/100km and 3495kg. The difference reflects different test standards and evolving preliminary data; the latest manufacturer position is the 96km WLTC, 1.1L/100km and 3495kg figures. Pricing has yet to be announced. ²⁵

Payload shortfall and local tuning work

Payload remains a work in progress. Publications this month list a 2735kg kerb weight and 3500kg gross vehicle mass for the Stockman Ultimate, implying a 765kg payload — 235kg short of the originally proposed one-tonne figure. Speaking to CarExpert and other Australian media, Qi said: "Think about the diesel PHEV, the battery and the weight. The payload now isn't as good; it is not one tonne. We are still doing work on the payload." He did not commit to a one-tonne version for launch, and noted the battery sits at the rear below the cargo box, above the frame. Payload covers occupants, cargo, accessories and towball download, so accessories such as a canopy or bullbar would further reduce what is left for cargo. ³

Qi reaffirmed February as the delivery target, pointing to remaining work on advanced driver assistance systems and electric power steering, which he described as mostly software and "a little easier" to change. He said software and EPS engineers can incorporate Australian feedback directly, and some calibration changes could reach owners via software updates after delivery. Test vehicles were sent to Australia in September, with further developed vehicles due at the end of October and mid-November, and Chery may need to build vehicles in January to meet February deliveries. ⁴

Calibration is being tuned for Australian habits. "For the ADAS, I told our engineers: don't use your Chinese way of thinking. Think about Australian people's habits and the road conditions in Australia," Qi said, adding that steering feel and brake tuning for ute buyers, plus ride tuning of the leaf springs and shock absorbers, were part of the local work. Chery has enlisted Australian engineering firm Premcar, known for its work on the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton, for the local testing and validation program. ⁴⁵

Reservations open, deliveries due from February 1

Reservations opened on October 1, 2026, with a refundable $1000 deposit online. Customers who reserve during the pre-launch period receive a $2000 Bunnings gift card and the first three years (or 45,000km) of complimentary scheduled servicing, provided on delivery; the offer ends November 30, 2026. Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris described the response since the first announcement as "phenomenal" in the company's release, and Chery had previously reported more than 5000 expressions of interest and more than 1000 deposits as of July. Detailed pricing and specifications are to be announced closer to launch. ²⁵

The launch timing has shifted once. Chery had originally targeted a fourth-quarter 2026 launch, but first customer deliveries are now due from February 1, 2027, a date reaffirmed by Qi this week. A petrol PHEV variant using a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 395kW and 1000Nm and coil-spring rear suspension is planned for the second half of 2027, and GWM has confirmed it is also working on diesel hybrid and diesel PHEV powertrains, meaning the Stockman may not remain Australia's only diesel PHEV ute for long. Chery offers a 7-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, 7-year capped price servicing and an 8-year unlimited-kilometre high-voltage battery warranty. ¹²⁴⁵

Ahead of the launch, the Stockman received the first CarExpert Choice Award for Best Design, with CarExpert noting it was excited for the handsome dual-cab ute even setting aside its new diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain. The accolade is the awarding publication's own design judgement rather than a certification of capability, which remains to be established by final specifications and local testing. ⁷