Chery plans to bring its Grootman double-cab pickup to South Africa in the first quarter of 2027. The model, revealed as the KP31 in February 2026, will enter a growing new-energy pickup comparison alongside the BYD Shark 6 and GWM P300 PHEV. Chery has not announced local pricing or the Grootman’s model range.
The Grootman pairs a 2.5-litre turbodiesel with an electric motor and a 34 kWh LFP battery. Its combined output is 350 kW and 800 N.m, sent to all four wheels through a dedicated hybrid transmission; selectable 4WD includes high and low ranges. Chery quotes a 96 km WLTP electric range and 1.1 L/100 km combined consumption, but has not provided a fuel-use figure for a depleted battery. The BYD offers two petrol-based PHEV versions, producing 321 kW/650 N.m in Premium form and 350 kW/700 N.m in Performance form. The GWM’s petrol PHEV delivers 310 kW and 750 N.m.
The GWM leads the trio in claimed electric range, with up to 115 km on the NEDC cycle, or about 98 km WLTP. The Grootman’s 96 km WLTP figure is ahead of the Shark 6’s 85 km Premium and 80 km Performance figures. Chery’s pickup also has the highest ground clearance at 247 mm, while the GWM leads payload at 835 kg. Braked towing capacity is 3,500 kg for the Grootman and GWM, and the Shark 6 Performance; the BYD Premium is rated at 2,500 kg.
South African prices start at R914,900 for the GWM P300 PHEV, R999,900 for the Shark 6 Premium and R1,149,900 for the Shark 6 Performance. Chery has yet to confirm the Grootman’s price, but the article expects it to be positioned around these rivals.