From BYD Shark 6 to Chery Rely P3X: Will This Christmas Bring Australia Its Next Game-Changing Hybrid Ute?

Back in late 2024, we shared our thoughts on a bold new contender in Australia’s ute market in our blog:
“BYD Shark 6 – Australia’s First Off-Road-Ready PHEV Ute”.

Fast forward to 2025, and the results speak louder than Santa’s sleigh bells 🔔

The BYD Shark 6 turned out to be a true black horse in one of the most competitive automotive segments in Australia. Between January and September 2025, it delivered approximately 14,111 units, proving that Aussie tradies, fleets and adventure lovers are more than ready for electrified utes with real capability.

So as we hang up the Christmas lights and look toward 2026, one big question is lighting up the industry:

👉 Can Chery Rely P3X repeat — or even surpass — that success?

🎁 Meet the Rely P3X: A World-First Diesel Plug-In Hybrid Ute

Unveiled at the Chengdu Motor Show, Chery’s commercial vehicle division RELY introduced something truly groundbreaking:
the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup truck, the Rely P3X.

Yes — diesel + hybrid in a ladder-frame dual-cab ute. That alone makes it one of the most exciting Christmas presents the ute segment has seen in years 🎄🚙.

Built on Chery’s state-of-art hybrid-enabled ladder-frame platform, the P3X has been engineered from day one to take on global heavyweights like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger — not just in China, but worldwide.

🧧 Kirin Power Aesthetics: Where Tradition Meets Toughness

Design is the first thing that grabs you, and the P3X doesn’t whisper — it announces itself.

Inspired by the mythical Qilin (Kirin), the P3X features:

• A bold square-box silhouette, symbolizing balance and strength

• Round LED headlights paired with a squared, frameless grille
  

• BF Goodrich AT tyres, bash plates, orange recovery points and clever bumper steps

The result? A ute that looks equally at home on a worksite, in the bush, or loaded up for a Christmas road trip with the family.

One standout feature is its “growing design” — with 33 open ports that allow serious modular customization. Roof tents, side kitchens, rear motorcycle carriers… from a distance, the P3X can look like a mobile base camp on wheels.

⚙️ Diesel Muscle + Electric Intelligence

Under the bonnet is where the P3X truly earns its “new breed” title.

The plug-in hybrid system pairs:

• A brand-new 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel engine

• Electric motors integrated into the drivetrain

Target outputs are an impressive 210kW and 650Nm, with Chery aiming for:

• 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity

• Up to 1500kg payload

That puts it squarely in the same league as Australia’s best-selling utes — with the added benefits of hybrid efficiency and electric assistance.

In other words: pulling power for workdays, efficiency for everyday driving.

A Ute With Real Brainpower

Inside (details still to be fully revealed), technology takes centre stage:

• 15.6-inch floating touchscreen

• Advanced Qualcomm 8155 chip
  

Smart features include:

• Intelligent cargo box monitoring
  

• One-touch switching between 2WD / 4WD / off-road modes

• Rear differential locking and adjustable throttle response

Chery executives say it best: this ute isn’t just about electricity — it’s about intelligence.

Built With Australia in Mind

Importantly for local buyers, this is not just a rebadged Chinese ute.

Chery Australia COO Lucas Harris has confirmed:

• Australian engineers have been involved from day one
  

• ANCAP 5-star safety is a minimum expectation

• Australia is expected to be the first global markets to receive it

While the Rely P3X shown in Chengdu won’t be identical to the Australian version, the local model is expected to focus on the diesel plug-in hybrid setup, making it a perfect fit for Australian conditions.

Current timing points to an Australian launch in the second half of 2026.

🎄 A Crowded Christmas Table — But Plenty of Room for One More?

By the time the RELY P3X pulls up to Australia’s festive ute feast, competition will be tougher than ever. The Christmas table is already filling fast, with some very serious guests:

• BYD Shark 6

• GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV

• Ford Ranger PHEV

• MG U9

• LDV Terron 9

• Plus refreshed Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara on the way

But if the Shark 6 has shown us anything, it’s this:
Australians are ready for electrified utes — as long as they don’t compromise on capability.

That’s where iEV Charges & Accessories comes in. No matter which electrified ute ends up on your driveway this Christmas, you can keep it powered with an iEV 22kW 3-Phase Wall Charger — delivering fast, efficient charging wherever you need it.

More competition. More choice. More electrified muscle.
This Christmas, Australia’s ute market isn’t just getting bigger — it’s getting smarter ⚡🎄

🎅 Final Thought: Will the Chery Rely P3X Be the Next Black Horse?

The Rely P3X represents a rare balance:

1. Proven diesel toughness, built for long distances and hard work
2. Smart electric efficiency, delivering cleaner, more flexible driving
3. Real workhorse capability, without sacrificing comfort or tech
4. Next-generation intelligence, designed for modern fleets and families alike

In a market crowded with big names and bold promises, the RELY P3X’s greatest strength may be its ability to blend tradition with innovation — keeping everything Aussies value in a ute, while quietly moving it into the electrified future.

So the big question remains:
Could the Chery RELY P3X become Australia’s next hybrid ute success story — the black horse that no one saw coming?

Merry Christmas from iEV, and here’s to an exciting & electrifying 2026! 🎄⚡🚙