Scheduled to launch in South Africa in 2027, Chery has confirmed the Grootman bakkie will be produced locally from next year. The SA-bound new double cab will be one of several models built at the Chinese automaker’s Rosslyn Plant.
Chery South Africa has confirmed the Grootman, which will launch in our market in the first quarter of 2027, will be manufactured locally from next year. The SA-bound new double-cab bakkie will be one of several products built at the Chinese automaker’s Rosslyn Plant, near Pretoria. The latter includes the popular Tiggo Cross, Jeacoo J5, and Jetour T1 and T2. As a reminder, while Jetour operates independently from the Wuhu brand in South Africa, it falls under the larger Chery umbrella. Previously owned by Nissan, the assembly line, where the Navara was produced, was acquired by the Chinese automaker earlier in 2026. The official opening ceremony took place in July.
The first units are expected to roll off the assembly line by mid-2027. Over the six-month ramp-up period, which spans the third and fourth quarter of the year, Chery aims to produce 15 000 units in total, or 2 500 vehicles per month. Thereafter, the facility will work towards its maximum annual production capacity of 50 000 vehicles.
As a reminder, the Grootman employs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The ‘Super Hybrid’ setup pairs a (140 kW/450 N.m) 2.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with an electric motor for combined power and torque outputs of 350 kW and 800 N.m. Power is delivered to all four corners via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The PHEV setup incorporates a 34 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Chery has quoted a combined fuel consumption figure of 1.1 L/100 km and an electric-only operating range of 96 km (WLTP). The manufacturer has also confirmed an energy consumption of 31.1 kWh/100 km. This bakkie sports an 80-litre fuel tank.
In addition to 4H and 4L drivetrain settings, the new-energy bakkie also features a selection of 4WD programmes. The latter includes sand, mud, rock, and snow. Crawl Control, Turn Assist, and Expert modes are also present. The Grootman is equipped with front, centre, and rear differential locks.
The Grootman measures 5 450 mm long, 2 010 mm wide, and stands 1 890 mm tall, with a 3 250 mm wheelbase. Fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 285/70-size all-terrain tyres, the double cab sports a ground clearance of 247 mm. The approach and departure angles are rated at 30 and 25 degrees, respectively.
Although the carmaker’s local arm has yet to confirm specifications for our market, in Australia, a market that largely mirrors ours, the Grootman (or Stockman as it is called Down Under) will feature such items as 10.25-inch digital instrumentation, 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment — the latter incorporating Apple CarPlay/Android Auto screen mirroring and sat-nav — a head-up display, a 14-speaker sound system, and dual-zone climate control. Heated and ventilated, the driver and front passenger’s seats are eight- and four-way electrically adjustable, respectively. The rear pews will offer sliding and reclining functionality.
View this post on Instagram
