{
  "id": 9754932,
  "title": "Heritage Day post suggests Chery has settled on KP31 bakkie’s name",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/heritage-day-post-suggests-chery-has-settled-on-kp31-bakkies-name",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/chery-kp31-bakkie-south-africa-name/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chery has revealed a strong indication of the forthcoming name for its KP31 plug-in hybrid diesel vehicle, set to be sold in South Africa. The brand had intended to crown the winning name through a nationwide vote at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring, but extended the voting period until the end of the month. The process reportedly generated 20,000 suggestions, leading to the selection of six potential names: Bakkie, Brahman, Chief, Grootman, Nduna, and Orca. Chery South Africa's National Marketing Manager, Verene Petersen, explained that opting for South African input allowed the company to give the nation a meaningful role in the vehicle's story. While no further details have been disclosed, a recent post on the brand's Facebook page has sparked speculation that the winning name could be Brahman. The post, celebrating Heritage Day, features the KP31 on a farm setting with a father, son, and cattle. Though the image does not explicitly state the winning name, the cattle imagery, along with comments in the comment section, has led to the belief that Brahman is the chosen moniker. The KP31 is anticipated to have dimensions of 5,450mm in length, 3,250mm wheelbase, 2,010mm width, and 1,890mm height, with a ground clearance of 247mm, a tow rating of 3,500kg, and a payload of 1,000kg. Only available as a double cab, the vehicle will be powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine coupled with an unspecified electric motor and battery pack, delivering a total system output of 350kW/800Nm. All-wheel drive is expected, but the transmission specifics and four-wheel drive setup remain undisclosed. The interior will feature manual controls but incorporate modern amenities. A total electric range of 100km and a Ford Ranger-style Turn Trail Assist system, known as Tight Turn Assist, are among the features mentioned on Chery Australia's website. As of now, Chery South Africa has not officially confirmed Brahman as the name for the KP31, but an announcement is expected in the near future.",
  "summary": "An official announcement is still to be made, however, the Heritage Day social media posting suggests the winning moniker has emerged.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}