Chery unveils transforming seven-seat SUV

Chery has unveiled one of its wackiest – and potentially most useful – concept cars to date. Unveiled in China overnight, the ‘7-Seat Transformable Multi-SUV’ can ‘instantly’ transform from a three-row family SUV to a double-cab pick-up (among other options).

Chery has uncovered what it’s calling a world-first: one vehicle with up to six configuration options and space for seven passengers.

Unveiled at the Chery User Summit alongside a handful of new Omoda models, the “6=1” concept will cover 99 per cent of family mobility scenarios, according to the Chinese car-maker, with the Multi-SUV said to be the result of Chery’s vision to create a “mobile home”.

Only a few key details have been revealed, one of which is an interior height of 1284mm, which the brand says is enough to allow a six-year-old child to stand upright inside, while elderly passengers will be able to enter and exit without bending.

It also comes with a ‘Camper’ mode, able to support a host of accessories, including side awnings, pop-up roof tents, rear seat entertainment screens and external power supply.

In dual-cab pick-up mode, Chery claims up to 600L of cargo space, plus four tie-down points and adjustable dividers to accommodate different items, including surfboards, tents, construction materials, and even floral arrangements.

No powertrain details have been provided, however, given the concept vehicle is shown with a fuel/EV flap on either side, it’s all but certain to come powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system, which also makes sense given its pitched at adventurers that’ll no doubt require a long driving range.

Meanwhile, the quirky SUV sports all-terrain rubber and a high (maybe even pop-top) roof, which could present issues in height-restricted underground car parks.

It also appears as though passengers in the third row – when used in seven-seat SUV form – miss out on side windows, which look to be blacked out by body panels likely needed to allow it to contort into ute mode.

Obviously, there are more questions than answers at this early stage and we’d love to see inside the cabin. Alas, only a handful of photos have been provided.

Either way, Chery appears to have taken a leaf out of Deepal’s book by marketing its latest concept as a “multi-use” vehicle.

The Deepal E07 ‘Multitruck’ arrived Down Under last month as a pure-electric vehicle doesn’t quite fit into any one segment: it’s a five-seater with a tray-like rear end that can be covered or uncovered, and even used as a single-cab ute, of sorts.   

Meanwhile, MG has also been testing the waters with different configurations, with the new U9 pick-up offering a mid-gate folding tray/cabin divide in flagship form, allowing it to be used as a single-cab ute with additional load space.

While it hasn’t been confirmed for Australia, Chery’s latest SUV-ute creation is tipped to reach overseas customers in the third quarter of 2026.

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