Chery ute is coming, but it’s not this one

Chery’s first battery-electric ute, the Rely R08, has been revealed in China, where it’s on sale from about A$26,000. Based on the Himla ute unveiled last year and built exclusively for left-hand-drive markets, the R08 EV won’t come to Australia. Instead, Chery plans to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) diesel ute locally to rival the BYD Shark 6, though timing remains unconfirmed.

The Rely R08 electric ute has been detailed for the Chinese market, where it’s available in six variants, including single-motor rear wheel drive and dual-motor AWD options, as well as standard and long-range battery options.

Those are said to deliver between 405-510km of range (based on more lenient CLTC testing), with single-motor versions set to deliver 150kW/350Nm from a rear-mounted e-motor, while dual-motor options deliver more potent 300kW/540Nm.

Unlike the Chery-branded ute destined for Australia as soon as Q4 2026, the R08 is based on older combustion-engined architecture and built only in left-hand drive.

Chery’s inbound ute will be based on the P3X shown last year, which is built on a global platform – for both left- and right-hand markets – and is set to land in Australia with a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain to start, although specifics are yet to be confirmed.

Plenty of mystery surrounds Chery’s ute plans Down Under, but an electrified pick-up to rival the BYD Shark 6 has been promised to arrive in the second half of 2026 – although that timing now seems ambitious given very little detail has been provided.

Chery executives have also hinted at the revival of the lifestyle-based ute category once dominated by the likes of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, although again, details are thin.

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