- Chery chose a new name for its new pickup after a public vote.
- The ladder-frame pickup combines a diesel engine with a PHEV system.
- Earlier Suzuki and Mahindra trucks also carried the same name.
Chery has settled on a name for its upcoming plug-in hybrid pickup in Australia. The production truck, previewed by the KP31 prototype earlier this year, will wear the Stockman badge, the winner of a public contest that pulled in more than 20,000 submissions from across the country.
The winning entry came from Steve Kodikara of Victoria and took more than 25 percent of the 12,000 public votes. Stockman beat eight other shortlisted names, among them Ironbark, Longreach, Bushwalker, Outrider, Orca, and Mate. For his trouble, Kodikara gets the keys to the first production Stockman delivered in Australia before the end of the year.
Suzuki Approves
The name isn’t new, though. Suzuki has used it since the late ’70s, when the pickup versions of its Jeep-inspired LJ and Sierra (Jimny) off-roaders wore the Stockman label and were sold as “4WD Farm Trucks.”
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Indian automaker Mahindra also ran the Stockman name in Australia on its licensed Willys Jeep-based trucks in the early ’90s. Still, no one had filed a trademark, allowing Chery to freely claim the intellectual property rights. In its defense, the word Stockman describes a highly skilled agricultural worker, farmer, or rancher, which makes it a fitting badge for a rugged truck.
Rather than bristle at the move, Suzuki Australia took it in stride. General manager Michael Pachota joked that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. As reported by CarExpert, he added:
“We’re proud of the heritage Suzuki built around the Stockman name and we’re delighted to see it remains memorable enough to inspire others all these years later. While others may adopt the name, its place in Australian automotive history will always be closely linked with Suzuki.”
A Midsize Pickup With A Diesel PHEV
The Chery Stockman reaches Australian roads in the fourth quarter of 2026 as the market’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup. The dual-cab ute stretches 5,450 mm (214.6 inches), rides on a ladder frame, and wears rugged styling with round LED headlights, sculpted fenders, and plenty of plastic cladding.
The PHEV powertrain combines a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with electric motors and is paired to a 4WD system with three locking differentials. Chery has yet to announce the detailed specifications but promises a 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs) payload capacity alongside a 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) braked towing capacity.
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Furthermore, a more conventional gasoline plug-in hybrid variant is set to join the lineup next year, targeting rivals like the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha, and Ford Ranger PHEV.
