Chery bakkie gears for SA

→ Two body styles likely to head to the country.

- Jaco van der Merwe

By showcasing its first bakkie called the Himla at the Shanghai Auto Show last week, ambitious Chinese carmaker Chery plans to take the light commercial vehicle segment by storm.

Chery plans to introduce a bakkie in South Africa next year and the manufacturer is considering as many as five powertrain options, one of which could rival the BYD Shark as one of the most powerful bakkies in South Africa.

According to Zhang Guibing, president of Chery International, the Chery Himla, internally called the TP11, is unlikely to be one of them. It is more likely that the TP31, which is currently being developed for export markets, will be introduced to Mzansi.

The TP11 is a unibody vehicle, while the TP31 will be built on a ladder frame with different suspension. This means that The Citizen Motoring’s short little drive on a make-shift off-road course in the Himla in Wuhu, China last month is nothing to go by. But regardless, it did feel very solid.