Chery confirms two lifestyle utes
Chinese giant planning Ford Ranger rival as wellAt least two plug-in lifestyle utes are in the works at Chinese brand Chery as it approaches its relaunch in Australia.
While the state-owned Chinese auto giant’s utes are unibody (monocoque) designs, it is also considering partnering with or purchasing an existing ute manufacturer to expand into the traditional body-on-frame ute segment to take on the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux that are so popular in Australia.
Chery is also pondering a battery-electric ute based on its new electric-only C0X skateboard architecture.
Chery’s ute plans were revealed to carsales during a briefing on the brand’s expansion by Chery International’s executive vice-president Charlie Zhang.
“According to our planning we will develop two pick-ups,” confirmed Zhang. “One small-medium sized, the other is a large one, with electric or PHEV [drivetrains].
“That is something we are planning for.
“Also for the traditional pick-up, we will see if there are emerging opportunities for us – we will see if we can do it through mergers or acquisitions.”
A potential partner could come from within the greater Chery Group from LCV specialist Karry, which has plenty of ladder-frame experience, including the Higgo pick-up launched in 2015.
Zhang was clear that entering the ute segments would help drive Chery to its ambitious goal of 75,000 annual sales in Australia by 2027, as well as two million export sales per annum globally by 2030.
“According to our study, the pick-up segment accounts for at least 15 per cent of the total, so worldwide more or less eight million total units pick-ups.
“If we have eight per cent of 10 per cent market share that’s roughly 700,000 units. So it is one of the largest segments we have not yet entered.
“So for pick-up it is very, very interesting.”
Zhang revealed the smaller electric ute would be coming after the launch of the Omoda 5 EV, which is due for reveal in late 2023 and Australian launch in 2024.
The Omoda 5 will be the first battery-electric vehicle developed on Chery’s T1X monocoque platform and the learnings gained will then be applied to other model families including a ute.
“We are planning a range of smaller compact SUV models, including the crossovers, the Jeep styles and even the small pick-up on the same product platforms,” Zhang confirmed.
“So once we develop Omoda 5 BEV all the chassis including the electric motor and electric controls can be applied to the other models on the same product platforms,” Zhang explained.
“I am very enthusiastic about the new models we will introduce to Australia and particularly for the electric cars.”
Zhang acknowledged the sales strength of ladder-frame utes but talked up the smaller monocoque design.
“Most of the pick-ups are still the traditional body-on-frame, so the other type of pick-up is for the urban use.
“It is a new lifestyle, right? We call it the unibody pick-up. It is developed on the passenger vehicles.
“The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the perfect example.”
C0X is being developed by Chery for LCVs alongside a new passenger car and SUV electric car architecture, and the T2X platform for medium and large SUVs with orthodox and hybrid powertrains.
Asked about a ute based on C0X, Zhang responded: “Why not? We will see.”
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