Chery has confirmed a body-on-frame bakkie dubbed the Himla will be making its way to the South African market as both turbodiesel and turbodiesel hybrid. Information remains scarce, but here is what was announced at the Shanghai Auto Show.
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Looking to follow the path of Chinese rival GWM (with its lineup of bakkies), Chery is now taking a stab at body-on-frame double cabs. If executed correctly, the entry into the extremely competitive segment will see the automaker reap rewards, however, it has proven to be an uphill battle for Chinese automakers to win share in the segment where buyers prioritise durability and reliability.
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Chery has had the model now known as the Himla in the pipeline for some time. It originally broke cover to the South African media as the KP11 concept in Wuhu last year, but the prototype shown in Shanghai can move under its own steam, which signals a fair chunk of development has been completed in the interim. The Chinese automaker settled on the Himla moniker which is an acronym for High performance, Innovation, Multifunctional, Longevity and All-terrain and is inspired by the Himalayas.
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Details are still scarce, but Chery has confirmed that it will come to South Africa, either late this year or early in 2026.
What has also been confirmed is that the bakkie will feature an all-new Chery-developed turbodiesel engine and an alternative which employs the services of a hybrid too. Power and performance figures are clandestine for now but on display at the Shanghai Auto Show was an example shod in 19-inch alloy wheels with some chunky tyres. Exceptedly, the interior is outfitted with a centrally mounted infotainment screen.
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The post Chery Confirms Hilux Rivaling Himla Bakkie for SA appeared first on CAR Magazine.
