‘Stockman’ Crowned the Winning Name for Chery’s New Ute

After receiving more than 20,000 entries from Australians across the country, Chery has officially revealed the name of its upcoming diesel plug-in hybrid ute: Stockman.

Earlier this year, Chery launched The Great Australian Chery Ute Naming Competition, inviting Australians to help name what will become the brand's first ute and Australia's first diesel plug-in hybrid ute. Built for Australians and the way they work, live and travel, it only made sense that the final piece of the puzzle, the name, came from Australians themselves.

More Than 20,000 Entries

Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Lucas Harris said the response exceeded expectations.

"We knew Aussies would have a strong view on what makes a great ute, and the response to this competition has absolutely reflected that. To receive this many entries is a tremendous result, but just as importantly, entrants took the brief seriously and explained why their name belonged on the ute, making the shortlisting process both exciting and difficult."

After reviewing thousands of submissions, Chery narrowed the field down to nine finalists:

• Outrider
• Orca
• Ironbark
• Bushwalker
• Stockman
• Longreach
• Ridgeback
• Terra
• Mate     

And the Winner Is...

The winning entry came from Victorian Steve Kodikara, whose submission perfectly captured the spirit of the vehicle and the Australian people it was designed for.

The name Stockman pays tribute to Australia's hardworking stockmen, known for their resilience, reliability and ability to cover vast distances in some of the country's toughest conditions.

According to Steve, the name reflects a blend of traditional Australian grit and modern innovation - qualities he believes perfectly suit Chery's new diesel plug-in hybrid ute. As a prize for winning, Steve will be the recipient of one of the first Stockman utes when they arrive in Australia.

John Hughes will be keeping a close eye on further details as Chery prepares for the Stockman's Australian debut later in 2026.

In the meantime, read Steve’s winning entry below:

‘STOCKMAN: The Australian stockman is more than a rugged icon, he's a highly skilled worker shaped by an unforgiving history. Not a folk tale. A real person, doing a real job, across terrain that defeated every piece of equipment that wasn't built specifically to handle it. They covered Australia's vast distances not because it was easy, but because the job demanded it, across stock routes stretching thousands of kilometres, through conditions that modern vehicles still struggle to manage. They delivered without fail, because failure wasn't an option when the land and the livelihoods of entire communities depended on them getting through. The Chery STOCKMAN was built in exactly that spirit. Diesel power fused with electric drive. Old-world grit fused with next-generation engineering. The heritage of a working nation fused with the technology that will carry it forward. This isn't a ute named after a legend. It's a ute that is one. Chery STOCKMAN. Built for the Australia that never stopped working.’