Chery Himla dual cab ute debuts in Shanghai
Diesel and electrified powertrain confirmed for latest Ford Ranger fighter from ChinaThe next Chinese ute likely to head for Australia has broken cover at the Shanghai auto show.
Meet the Chery Himla. Yes, Himla.
The Himla is the production version of the dual cab ladder frame ute codenamed KP11 that was teased by Chery late last year.
Only limited details were revealed in Shanghai yesterday, but it has been confirmed the Himla will come with a new Chery-developed turbo-diesel engine as well as some form of hybrid powertrain.
A pure electric powertrain is also reportedly on the cards.
It has already been confirmed for sale in Latin America and South Africa, where it will launch in 2026.
The news is less clear cut for Australia.
“We’re always interested in reviewing the exciting product from headquarters,” said Chery Australia spokesman Tim Krieger.
“However there are no plans for this model for our market at this time.”
Krieger’s response was much more cautious than that of Chery Australia CEO Lewis Lu, who told carsales in March: “I need those vehicles [dual cab utes] as fast as we can.”
And what of the name. Well, it’s inspired by the Himalayan mountain range and is also an acronym for high performance, innovation, multifunctional, longevity and all-terrain capability.
The four pillars of functionality it is based on are loading, crossing, camping and towing.
That suggests a one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, both of which are fundamentals for ute success in Australia.
During yesterday’s presentation it was revealed the Himla was the result of more than two-years of research and development effort involving 30 countries.
The vehicle on-show rolled on 19-inch alloy wheels, was fitted with LED headlights and included a sports bar and tubliner for the cargo area.
Inside, a digital instrument displayed in front of the driver while a large infotainment touchscreen sat proud of the dashboard. A Ford Ranger-style drive selector was mounted on the centre console.
A 2026 arrival in Australia at a typically sharp Chery price would place it in direct competition with other Chinese utes such as the GWM Cannon, JAC T9.
Other incoming Chinese utes are the freshly arrived and more expensive BYD Shark 6 and the LDV Terron 9 and MG U9, the latter of which are yet to have their pricing detailed.
A ladder frame heavy-duty in the style of the Himla is one of two utes Chery has talked about coming to Australia as far back as 2022. The other is a smaller electric ute using a car-style monocoque frame.
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