Rooted in Afrikaans and literally meaning “big man”, Grootman has become a familiar South African expression of respect. It describes someone who has earned their standing through experience, achievement and the way they take responsibility. Whether at a family gathering or around a business table, the Grootman is the person whose opinion carries weight and who can be relied on when a decision needs making or a problem needs solving.
That meaning sits comfortably alongside the role a bakkie plays in many South African households. For some owners it is the vehicle that helps build a business. For others it carries the family, or marks a goal they have worked towards for years. The name captures both the dependability those owners need and the sense of achievement that comes with a new bakkie.
It also reflects the character Chery wants the vehicle to have. Carrying a load, handling the working day and bringing the family along all shaped the thinking behind Grootman, and the qualities tied to the name, namely strength, capability and reliability, are the ones Chery intends its new bakkie to deliver.
“Chery brings its Chinese heritage and global engineering expertise to this bakkie, and we wanted South Africans to have a hand in shaping its identity here,” said Jay Jay Botes, General Manager for Chery South Africa. “Grootman is a word people use with respect, often for someone who has worked hard to get where they are and can be counted on. Having South Africans choose it makes the name particularly meaningful, and we recognise that it comes with expectations we will have to live up to.”
