Chery Stockman diesel PHEV ute stays on track for February 2027 as Australian tuning continues

February 2027 target reaffirmed

Chery says its Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute remains on track for its February 2027 Australian arrival, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin from 1 February. Speaking to CarExpert and other Australian media in China, Stockman chief product manager Mark Qi reaffirmed the target: "For now, the target is still February next year. In February, we will deliver the Stockman in Australia." That timetable was announced when Chery opened reservations on 1 October, following an earlier forecast of a late-2026 launch reported by CarExpert. ¹⁴

CarSauce reports Qi positioned Australia as the Stockman's first and most important global market, ahead of South Africa and South America. He acknowledged the development window is tight: "For the engineers, three months is very short. They also complain, 'we need more time, we need more time.' But we keep working on it." When asked whether local feedback could push the showroom arrival to March or April, Qi did not directly answer the timing question, instead pointing to software-based changes that can be made quickly. ³

Chery may need to build the vehicles in January to meet February deliveries. Mr Qi explained how local feedback can be incorporated: "When we get feedback, the software and EPS engineers can make changes directly and check them." Some calibration changes could also be applied through software updates after owners take delivery, and Chery has previously told CarExpert that many ADAS software changes can be applied to existing vehicles at dealerships. ¹

What remains to be tuned for Australia

CarExpert understands the Stockman's core hardware is locked in, with engineers now refining its Australian calibration. Mr Qi identified driver-assistance systems and electric power steering as the priority areas, describing them as mostly software: "Those are mostly software, so they are a little easier for us." Test vehicles were sent to Australia in September, with further developed vehicles due at the end of October and in mid-November — the latter mainly for Australian engineers to check changes already made in response to earlier feedback. ¹

Mr Qi told the media he had instructed his driver-assistance engineers to adapt to local conditions: "Don't use your Chinese way of thinking. Think about Australian people's habits and the road conditions in Australia." Steering weight is being tailored to local buyers — Chery's own comments note Chinese passenger-car buyers often prefer lighter steering — and brake pedal feel is also under review, with Qi telling CarSauce that something acceptable in a passenger car can feel too light for a ute user. Diesel-electric powertrain smoothness is also being refined. ¹³

Some hardware-adjacent work continues on the leaf-spring rear suspension. "For Australia, we have leaf springs, and we need to do more work on the leaf springs and shock absorbers," Mr Qi said, as reported by CarExpert. Chery's work with Australian engineering firm Premcar includes testing and validation of the Stockman's ride and handling on local roads as well as off-road testing, with Premcar choosing locations to suit Australian use. CarExpert joined a similar Chery local validation program for the Tiggo 7 PHEV in 2025. ¹

CarSauce also reports that Chery is still working toward a one-tonne payload for Australia, and that the Stockman has completed 300,000km of durability testing in China. The publication notes these remaining calibration items sit within a tight window before Australian production timing, with the November test vehicle central to the process. ³

Specifications: preliminary figures under certification

Chery's preliminary specifications list a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine paired with a 34kWh battery, with combined outputs of 350kW and 800Nm and a claimed electric range of 96km on the WLTC test cycle, as reported by CarExpert. CarSauce details two electric motors in P1 and P3 positions, a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, a diesel engine that can drive the wheels directly while retaining a transfer case, and an in-house-developed diesel. Chery's Australian website separately claims up to 96km of electric-only range, 1.1L/100km combined fuel consumption and 3495kg braked towing capacity, but its disclaimer states these figures are indicative only, based on preliminary data and subject to change pending final specification, testing, certification and regulatory approval. ¹³²

Other preliminary figures from Chery Australia include a 5450mm body length, 3250mm wheelbase, double-wishbone front suspension, unbraked towing of 750kg, minimum 247mm ground clearance at full load, all-terrain tyres, and triple front, centre and rear differential locks with crawl control and tight-turn assist. Australian pricing has yet to be announced, with pricing and detailed specifications to be released closer to launch. Chery's warranty package covers seven years unlimited kilometres, an 8-year/unlimited-km battery warranty from first registration, up to seven years of roadside assistance and seven-year capped-price servicing. ¹²⁴

Reservations, offers and delivery timing

Reservations opened on 1 October 2026 with a refundable $1,000 online deposit qualifying buyers for what Chery Australia called an "exclusive pre-launch incentive package": a $2,000 Bunnings gift card and three years or 45,000km of complimentary scheduled servicing, provided on delivery. Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said the reservation program gives customers the opportunity to secure their place ahead of the official sales launch. The offer runs until 30 November 2026, and pricing and detailed specifications will be announced closer to launch, as reported by CarExpert. ⁴²

Demand signals ahead of reservations included more than 5000 expressions of interest and more than 1000 deposits as of July, according to Chery figures cited by CarExpert. The Stockman was originally shown in late 2025 at the Chengdu motor show under Chery's Rely brand, later previewed to Australian media under the KP31 placeholder nameplate, and named via a public competition. A petrol PHEV version using a 2.0-litre turbo four with claimed 395kW and 1000Nm and coil-spring rear suspension is planned for the second half of 2027. ⁴

Ironman 4x4 accessories and the competitive set

Chery has partnered with Australian off-road equipment specialist Ironman 4x4 to develop a range of accessories specifically engineered for the Stockman, GoAuto reports. The initial range covers bull bars, side steps, roof racks, canopies, storage systems, towing equipment and suspension upgrades, with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) upgrade also under development. Ironman will match Chery's seven-year manufacturer warranty on accessories ordered with the vehicle, and accessories can be ordered through participating Chery dealerships. Headlining the range is the Apex bull bar with a 5443kg winch cradle, while the tow bar is rated to the ute's 3500kg braked towing capacity. ⁵

The Stockman is set to become Australia's first diesel PHEV ute, joining petrol plug-in hybrid rivals including the Ford Ranger Hybrid, BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. It may not hold that diesel distinction for long, with GWM confirming work on its own diesel PHEV powertrain, and Chery's Jetour brand could add the F700 ute as soon as late 2027, per CarExpert. Notably, CarSauce reports South African media drove the Stockman in China this week but Australian media did not, because the ute was not yet ready in Australian specification. ¹³⁴