Words: Richard Edwards
Published 17 June 2026
Chery Australia has a name for its first ute, and the public chose it. After more than 20,000 entries were whittled down to a shortlist of nine, the brand’s upcoming ute will be called the Stockman, with a diesel plug-in hybrid confirmed as the first version on the way.
The winning name came from Steve Kodikara of Victoria, who takes home the first Stockman to reach Australia later this year.
Chery launched the naming competition earlier in 2026, inviting Australians to help name a ute built for local conditions. The brand says the response was strong across tradies, families, ute enthusiasts and regional communities, with a public vote deciding the final result.
Stockman is a nod to the resilience and hard-working reputation of Australia’s stockmen, and that is the image Chery wants its first ute to carry: capability, endurance and versatility across a range of conditions.
The story behind the name
Kodikara’s entry stood out as much for its story as the name. He described the stockman as Australia’s original workhorse, someone who covers tough terrain, works around obstacles and earns trust through reliability. He drew a line between that spirit and Chery’s ute, which pairs traditional capability with newer technology.
“I’m incredibly honoured that Stockman was chosen from the thousands of entries submitted to title Chery’s new ute,” says Kodikara. “I felt the name captured the spirit of Australia’s original workhorse and everything a ute should represent: reliability, capability and resilience. I’m glad it resonated with Australians, and I’m thrilled to see it become part of Chery’s story.”
Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris says the competition went beyond what the brand expected.
“The response to this competition exceeded our expectations and showcased just how passionate Australians are about utes,” says Harris. “Stockman stood out because it captured something uniquely Australian while reflecting the capability, reliability and innovation behind our upcoming ute. Steve’s submission brought the name to life through a compelling story, connecting Australia’s heritage with the next generation of ute technology.”
Stockman saw off eight other finalists, Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra and Mate, taking more than 25 per cent of the votes cast by over 12,000 Australians.
What we know so far
Originally discussed under its codename KP61, the Stockman is a significant launch for Chery. It is the brand’s first ute in Australia and, Chery says, the country’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, combining diesel power with plug-in hybrid technology.
Chery is holding firm specifications until closer to launch, but Australian media indicate the diesel plug-in hybrid pairs a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with an unspecified mix of electric motors and a high-voltage battery, with a quoted 1000kg payload and 3500kg braked towing capacity.
A second, petrol plug-in hybrid in the vein of BYD’s Shark 6 is reportedly due in 2027. That version is expected to drop the diesel’s mooted live axle and leaf springs at the rear in favour of independent suspension and coil springs.
Pricing and launch timing are still to come, with Chery promising more detail closer to the ute’s Australian arrival. It’s the same story for New Zealand, with the ute set to launch locally, but no timing has been provided.
Not the first Stockman
The name is not entirely new to Australian showrooms, either. Suzuki sold a Sierra and Jimny-based ute under the Stockman badge from the early 1980s through to 2000, earning a loyal following among rural and off-road buyers.
Suzuki has taken the borrowed badge in good humour. Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota says the brand is flattered to see the name back in the headlines, adding that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. He notes Suzuki is proud of the heritage it built around the Stockman name, and says its place in Australian motoring history stays tied to the brand no matter who else picks it up.
