Why is a pickup truck called a pickup?

[McChristopher]

Pickup is a transliteration of the American term 'pick-up', also known as a sedan truck, which, as the name suggests, is both a sedan and a truck. It is a light-duty cargo vehicle with an open-top cargo box behind the cab, where the side panels of the cargo box are integrated with the cab. It is a passenger-cargo dual-purpose vehicle that resembles a sedan in the front and has a cargo box at the back. Additional information: Its characteristics include the comfort of a sedan, strong power, and better cargo-carrying and off-road capabilities than a sedan. The most common type of pickup truck is the double-cab pickup. Pickup trucks can serve as special-purpose vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles, official vehicles, commercial vehicles, or family cars, used for cargo transport, tourism, taxis, etc. The so-called 'pickup' is a hybrid of a sedan and a truck. With the growing community of modification enthusiasts, pickup truck modifications are becoming an increasingly popular category. In the United States, pickup trucks are highly popular.

[CarmenAnn]

I've been curious about this name since childhood. 'Pika' is actually a transliteration from the English 'pick-up.' The term 'pick-up' means to pick up or load, and this type of vehicle has an open cargo box at the rear, making it easy to load and unload goods at any time. It's said that as early as the early 20th century, Ford in the U.S. introduced the first pick-up truck for farm and delivery services. When it was later introduced to China, locals called it 'Pika' for easier pronunciation. The name is particularly fitting because the design of a pick-up is all about practicality—capable of hauling goods, off-roading, and enduring rough use. To this day, pick-ups are especially common on construction sites and in rural areas, with domestic brands like Great Wall Pika being quite popular. I think this reflects not just the evolution of a name but also how vehicles have transformed from mere tools to life companions.