Chery's Zongheng F700 Pickup Packs 904 HP for About $44,400, but in China You Can Only Drive It for 15 Years

Chery has joined China's pickup push with a plug-in hybrid that packs 904 hp and starts at about $44,400.

The premium Zongheng F700 launched on Wednesday in three trims, priced between RMB 314,900 (about $46,700) and RMB 354,900 (about $52,600). A launch promotion cuts that to RMB 299,900 to RMB 339,900 (about $44,400 to $50,400).

The F700 is a full-size pickup at 5,495 mm (216 inches) long with a 3,350 mm (132 inches) wheelbase. Its off-road credentials include a 32-degree approach angle, a 45-degree maximum climbing grade, 900 mm (35 inches) of wading depth and IP68 waterproofing.

Hardware includes double-wishbone suspension front and rear, a full ladder frame and three locking differentials across the front, rear and center axles. The bed holds 1,300 liters with multiple tie-down points, and the truck offers a 3.5-ton (about 7,700 lbs) towing rating, a trailer hookup with smart towing mode, and a 220V bed outlet with 20 kW of off-grid power.

Under the hood sits Chery's Kunpeng CDM-O plug-in hybrid system. A 2.0-liter turbo engine (155 kW, 208 hp, 340 Nm or about 251 lb-ft) teams with front and rear electric motors for a combined 904 hp, routed through a 2-speed DHT gearbox. The 4C battery delivers about 150 km (93 miles) of CLTC electric-only range and 1,300 km (808 miles) combined, with 800V fast charging taking the pack from 20 to 80 percent in 10 minutes.

The cabin pairs a 35.4-inch panoramic display with a 15.6-inch center touchscreen, powered by a Snapdragon 8255 chip running Zongheng OS with pickup-specific navigation, while physical buttons are kept for key controls. Both five-seat and four-seat layouts are offered, with heated and ventilated seats front and rear, massage for the front row, a built-in fridge and a 10-speaker audio system. The truck also gets the Falcon 500 highway pilot assist, auto parking and a 540-degree camera view.

The bigger story is why Chery is building it. Pickups remain a niche in China, where they are classified as commercial vehicles and face mandatory scrappage after 15 years of ownership. Chery, BYD and Great Wall are all launching trucks in the belief that Beijing will eventually treat them like passenger cars and lift the forced retirement rule. And if the domestic market stays limited, Chery has an escape hatch. It has been China's biggest vehicle exporter for two consecutive years.