Chery's 2027 plug-in hybrid ute could be called Orca to rival 2026 BYD Shark 6 dual-cab ute

Chery has just dropped a huge hint on what the name for its incoming plug-in hybrid diesel ute might be.

Currently codenamed ‘KP31’, the brand has whittled down 20,000 submissions to a shortlist of nine potential names for the ute.

This list includes Bushwalker, Ironbark, Longreach, Mate, Orca, Outrider, Ridgeback, Stockman and Terra.

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It has trademarked all nine of the names in line with Australian regulations, but none of them have been officially registered yet.

Orca stands out of from the rest because it was filed for trademark back in June 2025, while the rest of the names were filed over the past few weeks of 2026.

This was part of the brand’s standard process of reserving potential names for future vehicles, according to Chery Australia.

Orca has been filed for trademark by Chery under the SUV and pick-up truck category, showing the brand's desire to use the name for a ute for about a year.

2027 Chery KP31

An orca is another name for a killer whale and the brand said it is one of the most powerful predators in the ocean, mightier even than the shark - a reference perhaps to the BYD Shark 6.

Could a filing of a name nearly a year ago and its subsequent appearance on the shortlist be more than a coincidence?

Voting on the name of the Chery ute will close on the 19th of May.

@carsguide.com.au Mean looking new ute confirmed for Oz with a surprise feature! #Chery #KP31 #ute #cartok #fyp ♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au

The KP31’s official launch remains on track for the fourth quarter of this year, with the petrol plug-in hybrid variant expected to join the lineup later on next year.

A name for the petrol PHEV ute has not been confirmed yet, meaning it could get an entirely different name to its diesel sibling.

Chery’s diesel PHEV was revealed earlier this year, featuring a segment-changing 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and electric motor duo.

2027 Chery KP31

Chery claims it will have a 1000kg payload as well as a 3500kg braked towing capacity, which matches many of its diesel-only competitors.

These figures also trump the base variants of the BYD Shark 6, although there is a new Performance variant of BYD’s ute capable of towing 3500kg.

It will join an increasingly busy Chinese electrified ute segment. This includes petrol PHEV rivals such as the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha, as well as the recently-announced JAC Hunter.