Chinese manufacturer Chery’s Jetour brand has started displaying the new Jetour Zongheng F700 plug-in hybrid pickup in showrooms across China ahead of its official launch on 6 August. According to the company, pre-sales opened earlier with a reference price of around Rs 53–54 lakh (roughly converted from 364,900 yuan), though final prices and variants are yet to be confirmed.
What is the Jetour Zongheng F700?
The F700 is a large lifestyle double-cab pickup built on a hybrid platform aimed at mixing off-road capability with long-distance touring.
- Size: It’s about 5.5 m long and 2.05 m wide, significantly bigger than common pickups seen in Nepal like the Hilux or Great Wall Wingle.
- Cargo bed: Roughly 1.52 m × 1.52 m × 0.57 m, with multiple tie-down points and a step integrated behind the rear wheels to make loading easier.
Under the skin, Jetour uses its Kunpeng Super Performance Hybrid system:
- Engine: 2.0‑litre turbo petrol, around 155 kW (about 208 hp) according to the announcement.
- Hybrid system output: A stated 665 kW (about 904 hp) and 1,135 Nm combined, putting it in supercar territory for power.
- Architecture: An 800V electrical system paired with CATL’s Shenxing battery technology, with a claimed combined driving range up to 1,300 km on a full tank and charge.
Other hardware includes an integrated ladder-frame body, front and rear independent suspension, three differential locks and 15 drive modes, clearly targeting serious off-road and overlanding use.
Cabin and tech
Inside, the F700 offers four- and five-seat layouts.
- Screens: A 15.6-inch central touchscreen plus a wide 35.4-inch display ahead of the driver.
- Processor and OS: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8255 chip running Jetour’s Zongheng OS.
- Driver assistance uses Jetour’s Falcon 500 hardware, suggesting advanced ADAS features for lane, collision and cruise support.
Nepal angle: why this Chinese pickup matters
The Zongheng F700 itself has no confirmed plan for Nepal yet, and Jetour has only officially mentioned exports to South Africa from 2027 (under the Jetour P5 name) and left-hand‑drive markets from late 2026. Right-hand‑drive markets are said to be still under evaluation, so any Nepal launch would be some years away and dependent on Jetour entering our market at all.
However, the model is still relevant for Nepali buyers because:
- Nepal imports many Chinese double-cab pickups, and brands often expand to new markets once their export versions are ready.
- The F700 shows that upcoming Chinese pickups may bring very high-output hybrid powertrains, long 1,000+ km ranges, and 800V fast-charging tech to the segment.
- Features like vehicle-to-load (V2L) 6.6 kW external power could be particularly useful in Nepal for camping, remote work sites and emergency backup power.
If Jetour or its parent Chery formally enters Nepal, future pickups inspired by the F700 could push the market towards more powerful, tech-heavy, hybrid or electric lifestyle trucks, likely at premium prices above Rs 50 lakh but with capabilities far beyond current diesel-only options.
For now, Nepali buyers will not see the Zongheng F700 in showrooms, but it is a clear sign of where Chinese pickup technology — and possibly Nepal’s double-cab segment — is heading.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
