Chery South Africa Names Its First Bakkie Grootman Ahead of 2027 Launch

Chery South Africa has confirmed that its upcoming one-tonne double-cab bakkie, internally designated as the KP31, will officially be named the Grootman when it launches locally in the first quarter of 2027, according to iol.co.za. The name was selected following a public naming campaign that drew over 20,000 submissions from motorists and consumers across the country.

Rooted in Afrikaans and literally translating to “big man,” the term has evolved into a familiar South African expression of respect for someone who has earned their standing through experience and responsibility. “Chery brings its Chinese heritage and global engineering expertise to this bakkie, and we wanted South Africans to have a hand in shaping its identity here,” said Jay Jay Botes, general manager for Chery South Africa, as reported by timeslive.co.za. Botes noted that the chosen moniker carries expectations the company must live up to when the vehicle arrives in showrooms.

Public Voting Narrows Six Shortlisted Names

The selection process began in August 2026 when Chery invited public participation to christen its new rival to the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger, with carmag.co.za detailing an initial shortlist of six contenders: Bakkie, Grootman, Nduna, Chief, Orca, and Brahman. While plans initially pointed to an announcement during the Kyalami Festival of Motoring, the voting window was extended through the end of the month, according to citizen.co.za. Leading up to the final reveal, social media teasers featuring a Heritage Day farm backdrop sparked widespread speculation that Brahman might take the crown, though the manufacturer ultimately settled on Grootman.

Hybrid Powertrain Delivers 350kW and 800Nm of Torque

Built on a dedicated hybrid platform known as the Kaitan ladder-frame structure, the bakkie pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with an electric motor to deliver a combined system output of 350kW and 800Nm of torque to all four wheels, as outlined by timeslive.co.za. This output surpasses several segment competitors, including the BYD Shark at 321kW and the Ford Ranger Raptor at 292kW. Preliminary metrics indicate a braked towing capacity of 3,500kg, a payload capacity of 1,000kg, and an electric-only driving range of up to 100 kilometres on the NEDC cycle. Dimensionally, the vehicle measures 5,450mm in length, 2,010mm in width, and 1,890mm in height, accompanied by a minimum ground clearance of 230mm when fully loaded.

Australia Will Market the Vehicle as the Stockman

While South African buyers receive the Grootman badge, the exact same vehicle is marketed under a different title in international territories. Chery Australia COO Lucas Harris announced that Australian buyers will see the dual-cab ute marketed as the Stockman, with plans to offer both plug-in hybrid and petrol-powered variants down under. South African consumers, meanwhile, await confirmation on whether a non-hybrid diesel model will join the local lineup to cater to budget-conscious buyers.

Pricing and Local Assembly Timeline

Pricing, exact specifications, and model line-up details remain unannounced ahead of the official market introduction scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, at which point the bakkie will enter South Africa as a full import. Consideration remains underway for local assembly at Chery’s newly acquired Rosslyn plant, which is slated to come online during the second half of 2027.