Premcar partners with Chery on new ute

Premcar, an Australian engineering firm, has been working with Chinese automaker Chery to ensure its debut ute, the Chery Stockman, can handle local conditions. The Stockman is being put through a local testing and validation program by Premcar, which is assessing its ride and handling tuning ahead of its launch in the fourth quarter of 2026.

“Chery has gone the extra mile with its first-ever Stockman ute,” said Premcar CEO Bernie Quinn. “Chery has created very specific attributes for the Stockman’s ride and handling and we are very pleased to help them test and validate their work in a variety of Australian conditions.”

The Chinese auto brand hasn’t detailed just how extensive the testing and validation program is, but says it chose Premcar for its 30 years of experience in engineering, testing and development. Premcar can trace its origins back to 1996 when it was established as Tickford Vehicle Engineering.

Premcar’s first vehicle was the 1997 Ford EL Falcon GT, the first in a long line of hot Fords it developed. They also worked with Nissan to launch its first Premcar-tuned model, the Navara N-Trek Warrior, in 2019. This variant was subsequently followed by the Navara Pro-4X Warrior and SL Warrior, with Premcar also working over the Y62 Patrol and more recently developing a local suspension tune for the new-generation Navara.

Chery Motor Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said, “Premcar has an outstanding reputation for engineering and vehicle validation, making them the ideal partner to help ensure Stockman is thoroughly tested and validated for Australian conditions before it reaches our customers.” He added, “This partnership is another example of Chery investing locally to develop vehicles specifically for Australian drivers.”

The Stockman will initially be available with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain and four-wheel drive, making it the first diesel PHEV offered in the local ute market. Total system outputs are 350kW of power and 800Nm of torque, with up to 100km of electric range under the more lenient NEDC standard.

A 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol PHEV powertrain will follow in 2027, featuring coil-spring rear suspension and total outputs of 395kW and 1000Nm. They will offer the Stockman with various luxury features still rare in the segment, including ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof.

The Stockman was originally shown in late 2025 at the Chengdu motor show as a model under Chery’s Rely brand, alongside a slightly smaller electric ute known as the KP2X. At the same time, Rely confirmed it was working on a larger KP4X ute – which could target full-size US pickups like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500.

It was subsequently previewed to Australian media under the KP31 placeholder nameplate earlier this year, before Chery announced a competition for Australians to name the new model. The winning moniker was Stockman, beating out other nameplates like Outrider and Orca. While it’s the Chery group’s first ute in Australia, another one is planned from the incoming Jetour brand. The F700 ute could arrive here as soon as late 2027.