Chery’s New SA Bakkie Will Be Called the ‘Grootman’
Chery South Africa has settled on a name for its upcoming double-cab bakkie, and it’s one with plenty of local flavour. The Chinese automaker has confirmed the vehicle, previously known only by its internal code KP31, will launch in South Africa as the Chery Grootman.
The name wasn’t dreamed up in a boardroom overseas. Chery ran a national naming competition, inviting South Africans to pitch suggestions for the bakkie ahead of its local debut. “Grootman” came out on top.
What’s in a name?
For readers outside South Africa, “grootman” is Afrikaans slang that translates loosely to “big man” — but its everyday use carries more weight than the literal meaning suggests. It’s a term of respect, typically used for someone who has earned their standing through experience, hard graft and reliability. Think of the person whose word is trusted when a tough call needs to be made.
Chery is leaning into that symbolism for a bakkie built to handle serious towing and off-road duties, suggesting the name reflects the kind of dependable, no-nonsense character buyers expect from a workhorse double-cab.
“Chery brings its Chinese heritage and global engineering expertise to this bakkie, and we wanted South Africans to have a hand in shaping its identity here,” said Jay Jay Botes, GM for Chery South Africa. “Having South Africans choose it makes the name particularly meaningful, and we recognise that it comes with expectations we will have to live up to.”
Hybrid power and serious towing muscle
Under the bonnet — or rather, across its hybrid platform — the Grootman pairs a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with an electric motor, driving all four wheels. Preliminary figures point to a combined output of 350kW and 800Nm of torque, putting it firmly in contention with established double-cab rivals on power alone.
Chery says the bakkie will be rated to tow up to 3,500kg braked, matching the towing capacity expected of a proper one-tonne workhorse in the local market.
- Hybrid setup: 2.5L turbodiesel engine plus electric motor
- Four-wheel drive configuration
- Combined output: 350kW and 800Nm (preliminary)
- Braked towing capacity: up to 3,500kg
When will it arrive?
The Chery Grootman is pencilled in for its South African launch in the first quarter of 2027. Full specifications, pricing and the local model line-up are expected to be revealed closer to that date.
The bakkie segment remains one of the most fiercely contested and emotionally loaded corners of the South African new-car market, so a name that resonates locally could give Chery a head start in winning over buyers loyal to more established double-cab nameplates.
Source: Chery unveils ‘Grootman’ name for new hybrid bakkie in SA — Business Day