Chery has presented detailed technical specifications for its new Stockman pickup truck, which is planned for assembly in South Africa. Although hybrid pickups have existed for some time, Chery intends to attract attention in this segment by offering a model with a diesel engine, which is the first such solution in its class.
The Chery division in Australia disclosed detailed specifications for this pickup, which will be named Stockman there. In South Africa, the company currently uses the codename KP31, suggesting a possible different name for the local market. Local representatives state that KP31 is actively being considered for South Africa, and there is also a possibility of local production at Chery's recently acquired Rosslyn plant.
According to information from Chery Australia, the Stockman 'Diesel Super Hybrid' powertrain combines a 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine with an electric motor. This combination provides a total output power of 350 kW and a torque of 800 Nm. These figures exceed the power of the BYD Shark, which is equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline and electric unit producing 321 kW, and also surpass the 292 kW of the Ford Ranger Raptor, although the latter is not a direct competitor due to its specialized high-speed off-road configuration.
The Stockman appears very well suited for rural operation thanks to standard off-road tires, a ground clearance of 247 mm, and a heavy-duty spring rear suspension. Furthermore, the stated towing capacity is 3500 kg. According to Chery, in addition to performance advantages, the Stockman can travel up to 100 km solely on electric power.
The pickup also features specific dimensions: a length of 5450 mm and a width of 2010 mm, making it slightly larger than the Hilux (5320 mm) and Ranger (5350 mm), but comparable in size to the BYD Shark. The cabin is designed in a high-tech and digital style while retaining physical controls.
COO of Chery Australia, Lucas Harris, also announced that a gasoline version of the Stockman will be available for the Australian market, with details expected in 2027. Harris noted: 'The Stockman embodies Chery's vision for the next generation of double-cab pickups, combining exceptional performance with impressive efficiency and genuine off-road capability. Offering both gasoline and diesel plug-in hybrid options allows us to meet customer demands, whether for off-road use or a more urban focus.'
Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, met with Yu Yan, CEO of the Chinese company JAC Motors, on July 15. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the further development of joint automobile production in Uzbekistan.
The parties noted that the opening of the JAC Motors plant in the Yangi Avlod Special Industrial Zone in May 2026 was a significant step for the development of Uzbekistan's modern automotive industry and the expansion of industrial cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.
Main attention was paid to the next stage of project implementation. Participants discussed plans to accelerate the transition of the plant from Semi Knocked Down (SKD) assembly to Complete Knocked Down (CKD) production as early as next year.
In addition, the parties considered measures aimed at deepening production localization, increasing the plant's export potential, and implementing advanced technologies.
The Road Freight Association (RFA) and the South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) announced on Tuesday the formalization of a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership is intended to create a broader foundation for advancing interests in logistics and cargo forwarding. According to the statement, this agreement establishes a framework for structured interaction in areas such as customs modernization, border digitalization, trade facilitation, and capacity building, with the overall goal of reducing costs and eliminating obstacles across the entire supply chain.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly welcomed the partnership, calling it timely and a natural alignment of goals. He emphasized that the road transport industry does not exist in isolation, and any delay at an entry port, manual process by any Other Government Agency (OGA), or bottleneck in compliance directly affects carriers in the supply chain.
Kelly added that the formal alliance with SAFLA expands RFA's lobbying capabilities in the forwarding sector, allowing it to present the government with a unified and coordinated signal regarding trade facilitation priorities, rather than fragmented requests from the industry.
Advocating for the power of a collective voice, Kelly noted: 'Many voices speaking in unison carry much more weight than any single association acting alone. This MoU allows RFA to expand its lobbying scope in a meaningful and credible way.'
SAFLA Executive Director Dave Logan highlighted the necessity of solving practical issues for members of both SAFLA and RFA, as well as the wider South African transport and logistics industry, through coordinated measures. Logan stated that cooperation is essential in freight transport because members operate at the intersection of customs, border management, regulatory compliance, and international trade, facing challenges that no single association can solve.
He also noted that joining forces with RFA creates a platform where the combined weight of memberships can contribute to real and tangible improvements. Logan expressed particular support for the momentum being built through SAFLA's participation in the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Stakeholder Forums, as this MoU deepens those interactions, including the prospects of road transport in discussions with the country's tax authorities.
According to the statement, the MoU defines several priority areas for joint action, including engagement with SARS, digitalization of OGA processes, development of 'Smart Borders,' improving trade facilitation, capacity building, and process mapping. The associations will also establish escalation mechanisms to address systemic issues on behalf of their members. Special emphasis is placed on OGA digitalization and simplifying customs procedures, where inefficiency continues to generate unnecessary compliance costs.
The statement concluded by asserting that smoother processes within OGA and SARS reduce the administrative burden on forwarders and customs brokers, and the resulting savings are passed directly down the supply chain to operators and carriers. For RFA, this link is central to the partnership's value proposition, and the Memorandum will be reviewed annually by senior executives of both associations to ensure the collaboration meets evolving sector needs.
It has been reported that the OnePlus brand will begin ceasing operations in the US and European markets. This move is part of a larger restructuring being carried out by its parent company, Oppo, amid slowing sales and geopolitical difficulties.
According to an informed source who wished to remain anonymous, the cessation of OnePlus operations could begin as early as this week. Although OnePlus will maintain its presence in China, plans are underway to extend the brand's closure to other global regions, including India, sometime in 2027.
Another Oppo mobile business, Realme, will also be leaving the Chinese market. Representatives from Oppo and OnePlus declined to comment on the matter.
The basis for these decisions stems from financial issues within the company's phone divisions, as well as a lack of growth momentum in the US, Europe, and India. Furthermore, there are concerns related to the sale of the Chinese phone brand in the US, as well as a lawsuit from Apple Inc. concerning trade secrets.
As part of the changes, Oppo will concentrate its efforts on Central Europe and will promote Realme devices in the Nordic region, which includes Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland, where the company has achieved greater success.
Although OnePlus was once a popular player among tech enthusiasts and Android fans, its influence in the smartphone market has significantly weakened in recent years. In the US, Apple and Samsung Electronics Co. dominate, while OnePlus lags far behind smaller competitors such as Motorola from Lenovo Group Ltd. and Google from Alphabet Inc.
Oppo has shown better results in China, although it trails market leaders Huawei Technologies Co. and Apple. Nevertheless, the rising cost of memory and phone prices has led to a decline in smartphone sales. According to IDC data, device shipments in China fell by 4.3% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.
Component shortages have also complicated the development of budget models for phone manufacturers, which were central to the OnePlus 'Nord' line. Early OnePlus models received positive reviews due to a combination of reliable performance, clean software, and affordable pricing. However, the recent flagship device, the OnePlus 15, faced launch issues in the US, which was delayed due to last year's government shutdown.
