Chery to Launch World’s First Diesel Plug-in Hybrid Pickup—But Not in the U.S.

Chery Automobile recently unveiled a new pickup concept named the KP31 in Australia, which will become the world’s first double-cab pickup equipped with a diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain. The vehicle pairs a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with a plug-in hybrid system, achieving a thermal efficiency of 47%—a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency over conventional diesel powertrains and a 30% reduction in vibration. Styling-wise, the KP31 closely resembles the Rely P3X previously showcased in China, featuring round headlights, plastic wheel arch cladding, a snorkel, all-terrain tires, and a cargo-bed roof rack. The production version is scheduled to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year. Slightly shorter than the concept, it measures 5,450 mm in length and offers a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,205 pounds. Chery also plans to introduce a gasoline plug-in hybrid variant by 2027. Unfortunately, this innovative pickup currently has no prospects of entering the U.S. market.