Vote to name that ute
A shortlist of nine names has been unveiled by Chery Australia for its upcoming world plug-in hybrid (PHEV) diesel ute after a public call-out resulted in more than 20,000 submissions.
The marque says the shortlisted names “reflect the spirit and personality Australians associate with a ute”. Making the final cut are:
• The Outrider, which draws on the local tradition of the outrider, someone who rode ahead to scout unknown territory. “It speaks to the ute being a category leader with a focus on capability, efficiency and range”.
• Orca. This “draws on the orca’s reputation for strength, intelligence and adaptability, aligning with the ute as a capable, versatile vehicle”.
• Ironbark, which is inspired by Australia’s iconic eucalyptus trees “reflecting Chery’s ute as a robust, dependable vehicle”.
• Bushwalker, which “captures the spirit of the outdoors and a ute designed to feel at home across any terrain”.
• Stockman, reflecting the perseverance and reliability of Aussie stockmen, and “symbolising a ute built to go the distance in demanding environments”.
• Longreach, which draws on the lucky country’s rural heartland, “representing durability and long-haul performance”.
• Ridgeback. This combines references to rugged terrain and dependable performance, aligning with the PHEV as a “capable and durable vehicle suited to demanding conditions”.
• Terra, which takes its name from the Latin for earth, “grounding the vehicle in the terrain it’s designed for while allowing for a range of variants that reflect how utes are used across different conditions”.
• Mate, which references a distinctly Australian term associated with familiarity and trust, “reflecting the ute as a reliable, everyday vehicle suited to a wide range of uses”.
The announcement marks the next phase of the competition with Australians now invited to vote for their preferred name before the final winner is revealed. The individual who submits the winning name will receive the first Chery ute, pictured, when it arrives across the ditch later this year.
Lucas Harris, chief operating officer of Chery Australia, says: “We asked Australians to help name this ute, and they delivered in a big way. The shortlist shows how passionate Aussies are about utes, but also how they’re thinking about the next generation of vehicles as new-energy technology evolves.” Visit cherymotor.com.au/vote-ute and vote by May 19.
