China’s pickup segment is evolving quickly, but Chery’s latest project suggests the next battleground may not be fully electric after all. The Chinese automaker is preparing a diesel plug-in hybrid truck that blends traditional workhorse virtues with the instant response and efficiency benefits of electrification.
Known as the Rely P3X in China and expected to adopt the Stockman name in selected export markets, the newcomer appears aimed squarely at lifestyle pickups such as the BYD Shark 6, albeit with a very different philosophy. Instead of pairing batteries with a gasoline engine, Chery has chosen a diesel powerplant backed by electric assistance. The result — at least on paper — is a muscular 476 hp and 800 Nm of combined output, figures that place it among the segment’s heavy hitters.
Yet numbers alone do not define the story. Pickup buyers in markets such as Southeast Asia and Australia continue to value diesel engines for towing, payload work and long-distance travel. Chery appears convinced that electrification does not need to abandon those strengths to move forward.
The truck also promises proper off-road credentials, with reports pointing to locking differentials and dedicated four-wheel-drive hardware. At the same time, the cabin embraces the premium trend sweeping through modern pickups, trading bare plastics for large screens, upscale materials and comfort features usually associated with family SUVs.
That combination could prove especially relevant in regions where pickups serve as both weekday work tools and weekend family transport. Buyers increasingly expect a single vehicle to handle construction sites, provincial road trips and city traffic without compromise.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the P3X is not whether it can outrun rivals, but whether it can persuade traditional diesel owners to embrace electrified technology. If successful, Chery may have identified a formula others overlooked.
For now, production versions and international market plans remain under wraps. Even so, the idea of pairing electric commuting capability with diesel endurance may become one of the industry’s most closely watched experiments.
Autocar’s Take
For years, electrified pickups have largely asked traditional truck buyers to adapt to a new formula. Chery’s diesel plug-in hybrid approach turns that thinking around by adapting electrification to existing buyer expectations instead. In markets where diesel remains king, that strategy may prove surprisingly effective. The promise of electric commuting during the week and diesel-powered touring or towing on weekends seems to balance the best of both worlds. Whether the technology delivers in real-world use remains to be seen, but the Rely P3X may have identified an overlooked opportunity in the evolving pickup landscape.
