Chery Australia has decided that if it is going to sell a pick-up truck or ute in Australia, it may as well ask Australia to name it.
So yes, there is now a public competition for Chery’s upcoming dual-cab. Entries opened on March 12 and close on March 26. The prize is not a cap or a keychain. It is the first Chery ute delivered in Australia, which should get a few people’s attention.
This is the same model Chery has been promoting as the world’s first plug-in hybrid diesel ute, ahead of an Australian launch due in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company says it will have a 1,000kg payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity, which at least suggests Chery knows what ute buyers usually ask about first.
To enter, people need to suggest a name and explain why it fits. Chery will shortlist the entries, open a public vote and then pick the winner. It is either a neat bit of crowd involvement or a handy way to avoid naming it themselves. Maybe both.
Still, the easy bit is the competition. The ute itself has more to prove. Chery has yet to publish full production specs, pricing, fuel economy or electric-only range. And while the “world first” diesel PHEV claim is certainly catchy, it is still Chery’s own claim at this stage.
Even so, this is a more memorable launch idea than another corporate line about innovation. Australians now get to name a ute, and one of them gets to take it home. That is a decent way to start.
