Meet Chery’s first pickup truck, the Himla

While Japanese automakers (and Ford) enjoy the most sales in the highly-contested midsize pickup truck segment in the Philippine market, Chinese automakers have been trying to get a slice of the pie. 

You have the likes of the GWM Cannon and the BYD Shark 6 DMO, as well as various models from Foton, which have established themselves quite well. One brand that could enter the segment is Chery which recently unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2025 its first-ever pickup truck model, the Himla. 

What’s in the name? The Himla name is inspired by the Himalayas mountain range which is home to some of the highest points on the planet. It probably means the Chinese automaker has some high aspirations for this model.

The front fascia of the Chery Himla is dominated by a massive octagonal grille with the Chery name spelled-out, flanked by split headlights. Black plastic bumpers and body cladding emphasize its ruggedness, and the tailgate has the Chery name stamped onto it.

The interior is typical of most Chinese cars, with sleek horizontal lines, premium-looking materials, and large screens. The three-spoke steering wheel is lifted from other models such as the Tiggo 7 Pro crossover.

Chery has not officially announced specific technical specifications for the Himla but we are expecting it to come in gas-ICE, turbodiesel, and even plug-in hybrid flavors.

While details are still incomplete, the Chery Himla surely looks promising. Do you think Chery Auto Philippines should bring this in once it fully goes into production?

_{Photos by Sam Surla}