Chery Australia has confirmed the name of its upcoming diesel plug-in hybrid ute, with Stockman selected following a national public competition.
The name was chosen from more than 20,000 submissions before being narrowed to a shortlist and put to a public vote. Stockman received more than 25 per cent of votes cast by more than 12,000 Australians, ahead of finalists including Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra and Mate.
The winning entry came from Victorian resident Steve Kodikara, who will receive the first Chery Stockman when the new ute arrives in Australia later this year.
Chery said the Stockman name was chosen for its association with the resilience, capability and dependability of Australia’s stockmen, linking the vehicle’s intended work-focused positioning with its diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain.
“The response to this competition exceeded our expectations and showcased just how passionate Australians are about utes,” Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris said.
“Stockman stood out because it captured something uniquely Australian while reflecting the capability, reliability and innovation behind our upcoming ute.”
The model will be Chery Australia’s first ute and, according to the brand, Australia’s first diesel plug-in hybrid ute. It will combine diesel power with plug-in hybrid technology as Chery expands its local line-up beyond passenger cars and SUVs.
The naming decision gives Chery a distinctly Australian identity for a vehicle that is expected to enter one of the country’s most competitive new-vehicle segments. While few technical details have been released, the diesel PHEV configuration could give fleets and private buyers another option as they weigh towing, payload, regional travel and emissions reduction requirements.
Chery has not yet confirmed specifications, pricing or a formal launch date for the Stockman, with further information expected closer to its Australian market introduction.
