Chery South Africa has officially revealed Grootman as the name of its first-ever bakkie, following a public naming campaign that invited South Africans to help shape the identity of the new model.
The Chery Grootman bakkie is planned to make its South African debut in the first quarter of 2027, bringing a hybrid powertrain, four-wheel drive and preliminary outputs of 350 kW and 800 Nm.
The announcement marks another step towards Chery entering South Africa’s highly competitive bakkie market.
Why Chery chose the name Grootman
Rather than simply bringing the vehicle to South Africa under its development name, KP31, Chery asked South Africans to help name it.
The Chery Grootman bakkie ultimately got its name from the public, with Grootman emerging as the chosen name.
The term, rooted in Afrikaans and literally meaning “big man”, has become widely used in South Africa as an expression of respect for someone who has earned their standing through experience, achievement and responsibility.
Chery believes that meaning fits the role bakkies play in South Africa, where they often serve several purposes -from work and business to family transport and recreation.
“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, General Manager for Chery South Africa.
Botes added that having South Africans choose the name gives the Chery Grootman bakkie a particularly meaningful local identity.
Chery Grootman bakkie packs serious hybrid power
Beyond its locally inspired name, the Chery Grootman bakkie is shaping up to be a powerful addition to the market.
The vehicle has been developed on a dedicated hybrid platform that combines a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with electric power and four-wheel drive.
According to Chery’s preliminary specifications, Grootman is expected to produce:
- 350 kW combined power
- 800 Nm of torque
- Up to 100 km electric-only range on the NEDC cycle
- Up to 3,500 kg braked towing capacity
- At least 230 mm ground clearance when fully loaded
Those figures remain preliminary, with final South African specifications still to be announced.
Built for work and everyday life
Practicality will also form an important part of the Chery Grootman bakkie’s proposition.
Its load box measures 1,560 mm long, 1,560 mm wide and 500 mm high, giving the Chery Grootman bakkie space for equipment, cargo and everyday utility.
Chery is also equipping the vehicle with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality.
The technology allows owners to use energy stored in the vehicle’s hybrid system to power external electrical equipment, including tools and camping appliances.
That could make the feature particularly useful for owners who use their bakkies for work, outdoor activities or travelling away from conventional power sources.
‘The Grootman Has Arrived’
Chery is supporting the Chery Grootman bakkie name reveal with a new campaign called “The Grootman Has Arrived.”
The campaign plays on the South African meaning attached to the word and the idea that when the Grootman arrives, things get done.
Following the announcement, Chery says it will continue exploring what Grootman means to South Africans by sharing stories about the people and qualities they associate with the name.
The strategy gives the Chery Grootman bakkie something increasingly important in a crowded automotive market: a distinctly local identity alongside Chery’s global engineering credentials.
Chery Grootman set for South Africa in 2027
The Chery Grootman bakkie is currently scheduled for a South African launch during the first quarter of 2027.
Pricing has not yet been announced, while Chery says final specifications and details of the local model line-up will be revealed closer to launch.
With preliminary figures of 350 kW and 800 Nm, four-wheel drive, hybrid technology and 3.5-tonne towing capacity, Grootman signals an ambitious entry by Chery into the South African bakkie segment.
For now, South Africans have at least answered one major question about the vehicle: it finally has a name.
Source: Chery South Africa media release issued to Pat on Brands on 1 October 2026.
Read another story: Chery South Africa Breaks Sales Records Again
