Following a 10-year hiatus, Geely has made a bold return to South Africa, with its Riddara sub-brand’s RD6 all-electric bakkie.
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Through local electric vehicle (EV) dealer Enviro Automotive, the Geely brand has returned to South Africa after an absence of around 10 years, and the car leading the charge comes in the shape of the Riddara RD6, the first battery-electric bakkie in SA.
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The local RD6 line-up will initially be exclusively offered with a 73 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery and the choice of two powertrains: the RWD single motor model developing 200 kW and 348 N.m of torque, and the AWD with a combined 315 kW and 595 N.m from its two axle-mounted, permanent magnet synchronous motors. According to the company, these figures allow the RWD and AWD versions to sprint to the three-figure marker from a standstill in 7.3 and 4.5 seconds, respectively, before topping out at 185 (RWD) and 190 km/h (AWD).
“The ICE [internal combustion engine] age is over with the arrival of the new Riddara RD6” — Gideon Wolfaardt, CEO of Enviro Automotive Group.
Both models offer an operating range of up to 424 km on a single full charge. However, Enviro Automotive has announced that an extended-range AWD derivative equipped with a larger, 84 kWh battery is on the cards. An entry-level, 63 kWh RWD variant is also under consideration for our market. Supporting DC fast charging of up to 110 kW, Enviro Automotive says the 73 kWh unit recharges from 30 to 80% in 30 minutes. A 20 to 80% AC charge takes seven hours. However, the RD6’s battery can also be discharged (up to 6 kW) to power worksite equipment and appliances for camping.
The RD6 measures 5 260 mm long, front to rear, and 1 900 mm wide, while its wheelbase spans 3 120 mm. The RWD derivative is 1 865 mm tall and the all-paw model, which sports a 5 mm increase in ground clearance (225 mm), measures 1 880 mm in height. Thes dimensions are comparable to the likes of the Ford Ranger.
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Measuring 1 525 mm in length, 1 450 mm in width and 540 mm in height, the RD6’s load bed offers a claimed 1 200 litres of packing space and a payload capacity of 1 030 kg. An additional 70 litres of stowage space can be found in a storage box below the bonnet. Equipped with a MacPherson strut front/independent multilink rear suspension setup, the emissions-free bakkie has a braked towing capacity of 3 000 kg. The water fording depth is rated at 815 mm.
Stepping inside, the up-to-date interior features such items as 10.25-inch digital instrumentation, 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment incorporating smartphone screen mirroring, wireless smartphone charging, a six-speaker sound system and dual-zone climate control, among other items. The suite of safety systems includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.
Find the full feature in the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.
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