Chinese utility vehicle bets on BorgWarner's 4x4 traction, autonomous driving technology and lifetime warranty to try to stop sales drop
Chery presented in China the Rely R08 Pro, a midsize pickup truck that marks the manufacturer’s new global offensive in the off-road utility segment. Aimed at the domestic market and regions such as the Middle East – where it will be marketed under the name Himla – the model aims at the leadership of fellow countryman Great Wall Cannon and projects challenges to the veteran Toyota Hilux, through a package that combines chassis robustness with autonomous driving features.
The mechanical set is centered on a 2.3 turbodiesel engine capable of delivering 150 hp and 42,8 kgfm at 1,500 rpm. Power is managed by an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and distributed by a BorgWarner all-wheel drive system, which includes front and rear differential locks. For severe use on trails, the utility leaves the factory with a snorkel, mixed-use tires and electronic functions such as “tank turning”, which reduces the maneuvering radius on unstable terrain.
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In the cabin, the pickup tries to detach itself from the image of a commercial vehicle by adopting a digital cockpit commanded by a 15.6″ screen with a Qualcomm 8155 processor. The technological apparatus includes Level 2 assistance and the “transparent chassis” feature, which uses cameras to project obstacles under the vehicle in the multimedia center, facilitating the transposition of technical terrain.
Chery’s commercial strategy takes place in a scenario of retraction: the brand recorded a 42% drop in its domestic sales of pickup trucks recently. To reverse the situation, the manufacturer is betting on a lifetime warranty in China and is already planning an unprecedented plug-in diesel hybrid variant for markets such as Australia, aiming to compete directly with BYD Shark.
