SYDNEY: Chery Australia's upcoming world-first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) diesel ute is named ‘Stockman’, marking the conclusion of an unprecedented competition embraced by Australians.
The Stockman will debut as Chery Australia's first ute.
Designed with Australian lifestyles in mind, the new model is set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is poised to become the world's first PHEV diesel ute, combining traditional diesel capability with electrified efficiency, with a 1,000kg payload and 3.5 tonne towing capacity.
The naming competition had kicked off in March 2026, and received more than 20,000 submissions.
Stockman emerged from a highly competitive shortlist that included Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra and Mate, ultimately receiving more than 25 per cent of votes cast by over 12,000 Australians during the public voting phase.
The winning name came from Victoria’s Steve Kodikara, who will now drive away with the first Stockman ute when it lands in Australia later this year.
Inspired by the resilience, dependability and hard-working spirit of Australia's stockmen, the name reflects the characteristics Chery believes define its first ute: capability, endurance and versatility across a wide range of Australian conditions.
Kodikara described the stockman as Australia's original workhorse, someone able to navigate challenging terrain, overcome obstacles and earn trust through reliability and perseverance.
He drew parallels between that spirit and Chery's ute, which combines traditional capability with next-generation technology.
"I'm incredibly honoured that Stockman was chosen from the thousands of entries submitted to title Chery’s new ute. 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," said Kodikara.
Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said the response to the competition exceeded all expectations.
"The response to this competition exceeded our expectations and showcased just how passionate Australians are about utes," said Harris.
"Stockman stood out because it captured something uniquely Australian while reflecting the capability, reliability and innovation behind our upcoming ute."
