• The Stockman is launching with a 469 hp, 590 lb-ft 2.5-liter turbo-diesel PHEV.
  • Chery’s new pickup has a rated towing capacity of 7,705 lbs and 60 miles of electric range.
  • Following the launch of the diesel, there will be a plug-in hybrid gas model.

The market for high-powered, plug-in hybrid pickup trucks shows no signs of abating, particularly in countries including Australia. The industry, led by popular models like the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Hi4-T, has put legacy brands like Ford and Toyota on notice, and now Chinese brand Chery is getting ready to throw its hat into the race.

Since the start of this year, Chery has been finalizing plans for a plug-in hybrid pickup of its own. The model, first previewed with the KP31 concept in February, has since morphed into the Stockman, and customer deliveries are scheduled to start earlier next year. As its launch date nears, key specifications for the truck have been announced.

Read: Chery Took Suzuki’s Truck Name, And Suzuki Says It’s Flattered

As we learned earlier this year, the Stockman will differ from BYD’s Shark 6 as it won’t launch with a gas-powered plug-in hybrid and instead will hit the market with a turbo-diesel plug-in. This setup, combining a 2.5-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder with an electric motor and a sizeable 34 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, will give the Stockman an impressive 469 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.

That power figure matches the flagship Shark 6 with its 469 hp (350 kW), but whereas the BYD makes do with 516 lb-ft (700 Nm), the Stockman out-muscles it with an extra 74 lb-ft (100 Nm).

Big On Towing And Power

Perhaps of even more importance than the pickup’s horsepower and torque figures is the fact that it’ll be able to tow 7,705 lbs (3,495 kg), matching the towing capacities of competitors like the Shark 6 Performance, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Kia Tasman, and Mazda BT-50. If Chery wants to capture a sizeable slice of this ultra-competitive market, nailing towing is a must. In addition, the Stockman will need to be very capable off-road.

The initial signs are good. Chery says it will come standard with front, center, and rear locking differentials. It’ll also ship with all-terrain tires, double-wishbone suspension at the front, and leaf springs at the rear. It’ll also deliver up to 60 miles (96 km) of all-electric driving, perfect for urban driving.

Other key features of the Stockman will include a 15.6-inch infotainment display, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 14-speaker audio system. Chery is also promising to ship it with a full suite of ADAS systems.

The final piece of the puzzle is price. The Stockman’s nearest competitor, the Shark 6 Performance, is priced from $62,900, so Chery would be wise to price its truck at roughly the same level. Arriving after the diesel model will be a gas-powered plug-in hybrid that’ll also be equipped with independent rear suspension, rather than the diesel’s leaf spring design.