Would you buy a plug-in hybrid diesel Chery pickup truck?

Chery is looking into fighting with established nameplates in the highly contested midsize pickup truck segment. Last year, the Chinese automaker revealed the Himla (also known as the Rely R08 or Jetour Reaolc), aimed at the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. 

This time, they’re aiming for the BYD Shark 6 DMO with a future plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck, initially revealed at the 2025 Chengdu Motor Show as the Rely P3X, and previewed in Australia as the Chery KP31 Concept, and set to go into production and begin sales within the year.

But this is more than just another PHEV pickup truck as it will be the first of its kind to make use of a PHEV diesel powertrain once it enters production.

It will be powered by a 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine that Chery says will offer a class-leading thermal efficiency of 47%. Of course, being a PHEV, it will be paired to electric motors, likely two of them, and a battery. Detailed information on this is not yet available as of this writing, but a gasoline PHEV is also confirmed to be coming in 2027 for those who are done with oil burners.

Chery does say that this powertrain will be 10% more efficient and will have 30% less vibrations, than the usual pure-ICE diesel powertrains. The truck will be capable of towing 3.5 tons and a payload capacity of 1,000kg, right in line with its potential rivals.

When it comes to looks, the KP31 concept takes a page out of the BYD Shark 6 DMO’s playbook with a boxy and muscular exterior. It measures at 5,610mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,925mm tall. The production version is confirmed to be shorter at a length of 5,450mm.

The front fascia gives us a bit of Ford Bronco vibes with its circular headlights and front grille with C-H-E-R-Y spelled-out. The concept is also equipped with a snorkel, 17-inch wheels wrapped in chunky 285/70 all-terrain tires, a tub rack with 4×4 recovery tracks, and is finished in a matte gray paint job.

More details about the production version of the Chery KP31 concept, perhaps including a final production name, will be revealed closer to its unveiling later this year. For now, do you think you’d buy a Chery plug-in hybrid pickup truck?

_{Photos from Chery Australia}