The name of Chery’s first Australian ute, formerly known as the KP31, has finally been revealed after a public competition to decide on a locally relevant moniker.

To be known as the Stockman, the name was submitted by Victorian Steve Kodikara, who will receive a free Stockman when it becomes available. The name received over a quarter of votes when the final eight names were put to the public to choose their favourite. The Stockman is due to launch in Australia before the end of 2026.

According to Chery, the name is inspired by the “resilience, dependability and hard-working spirit of Australia’s stockmen” and “reflects the characteristics Chery believes define its first ute: capability, endurance and versatility across a wide range of Australian conditions.”

“I’m incredibly honoured that Stockman was chosen from the thousands of entries submitted to title Chery’s new ute,” said Kodikara.

“I felt the name captured the spirit of Australia’s original workhorse and everything a ute should represent: reliability, capability and resilience. I’m glad it resonated with Australians, and I’m thrilled to see it become part of Chery’s story.”

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“The response to this competition exceeded our expectations and showcased just how passionate Australians are about utes,” said Lucas Harris, Chief Operating Officer, Chery Australia. “Stockman stood out because it captured something uniquely Australian while reflecting the capability, reliability and innovation behind our upcoming ute. Steve’s submission brought the name to life through a compelling story, connecting Australia’s heritage with the next generation of ute technology.”

Stockman emerged from a shortlist that included Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra and Mate. It ultimately received more than 25 per cent of votes cast by over 12,000 Australians during the public voting phase.

As announced earlier in 2026 when it was revealed, the Stockman will be the first ute on the Australian new car market to offer a diesel plug-in hybrid drivetrain, with a petrol PHEV variant due later on.

More details about the Chery Stockman will be announced closer to its market launch in late 2026.