2027 Chery Stockman Recruits Premcar for Australian Testing: 350kW Diesel PHEV Dual-Cab Locked for Late 2026

To ensure the platform withstands the harsh demands of the local market, the Chinese automaker has appointed renowned Melbourne-based engineering consultancy Premcar to assist in assessing and validating the ute's ride and handling setup ahead of its showroom arrival in the fourth quarter of 2026 (October to December).

Premcar brings three decades of revered local engineering heritage, having served as the engineering brain behind high-performance Ford Falcon models under Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), while more recently developing off-road programs such as the Nissan Navara Warrior, Patrol Warrior, and the Mitsubishi Triton Raider.

While Chery’s press release heavily promotes the partnership, the scope of the agreement sees Premcar "assessing and validating" Chery's in-house suspension calibration across diverse local conditions, rather than leading the complete ground-up chassis engineering program from scratch.

A Rare 2.5L Diesel Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain

Unlike most electrified dual-cab utes entering Australia with petrol-hybrid systems, the initial Chery Stockman launch model will feature an unconventional 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine paired with a single electric motor in a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) configuration.

The system delivers staggering combined outputs of 350kW of power and 800Nm of torque. Within Australia's emerging PHEV ute segment, this performance eclipses the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha, sitting second only to the petrol-hybrid JAC Hunter PHEV (360kW/1010Nm).

A secondary petrol plug-in hybrid variant—utilizing dual electric motors and a turbo-petrol engine driving the axles in a layout similar to the BYD Shark 6—is scheduled to expand the Stockman lineup in 2027.

Traditional Workhorse Underpinnings and Off-Road Hardware

Despite its complex hybrid powertrain, the Stockman retains traditional, heavy-duty commercial underpinnings designed for worksites and rural towing:

• Towing & Articulation: Rated for a full 3,500kg braked towing capacity and constructed with a rugged solid rear axle with heavy-duty leaf springs.

• 4WD Capability: Features a selectable low-range four-wheel-drive system augmented by three differential locks for maximum traction over challenging terrain.

• Electric Range: The onboard battery pack is expected to deliver up to 100km of pure electric driving range.

2027 Chery Stockman Australian Pricing & Release Timeline

Official retail pricing and finalized multi-tier specifications will be confirmed by Chery Australia closer to the vehicle's commercial release in late 2026.

(Note: Pricing listed below reflects estimated market positioning based on existing electrified dual-cab benchmarks in the Australian market.)

Estimated Lineup Pricing

• 2027 Chery Stockman 2.5L Diesel PHEV – Estimated $55,000 to $65,000 (Targeting the BYD Shark 6 at $55,900–$62,900 plus on-roads, and the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV at $57,490–$64,490 drive-away)

Launch Schedule

• Local In-Market Testing: Currently ongoing with Premcar across Victoria and regional testing routes.

• Australian Showroom Debut: Q4 2026 (October – December 2026) for the 2.5L Diesel PHEV.

• Secondary Powertrain Arrival: 2027 for the Dual-Motor Petrol PHEV variant.