Geely Dips Its Toes Back Into The SA Pond With The Riddara RD6 Fully Electric Bakkie

South African distributor Enviro Automotive Group is announcing the arrival of the Riddara RD6 double cab electric bakkie. It will be the second fully electric bakkie available locally following the launch of the Maxus T90 in 2023.

What is a ‘Riddara’?

Riddara is a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, and the RD6 signals its return to the South African market after exiting the country about a decade ago.

The new electric bakkie will be offered in 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, with the former incorporating a single electric motor mounted to its rear axle offering 200kW and 384Nm of peak power and torque, respectively.

The 4×4 model will add another motor to increase its peak outputs to 315kW and 595Nm. Apparently, this will result in a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds, making this the fastest accelerating bakkie in the country (if accurate). The new hybrid BYD Shark 6 and its 5.7-second time can’t compete.

Both models of the Riddara RD6 will feature a 73kWh battery and have a claimed 424km range on a full charge. Recharging only takes 30 minutes when connected to a 110kW charger, according to Enviro Auto. The battery can also charge other equipment up to 6kW, acting as an emergency power source if necessary.

Enviro Auto also plans to release a beefed-up 86kWh 4×4 model, as well as what should be a more affordable 63kWh 4×2 model in the future.

The RD6 should be rather spacious, featuring a 1,200l load bay that’s rated for a one-ton payload, a 70l front trunk (‘frunk’), and 48l of storage in the cabin. If you want to haul even more, the bakkie has a 3,000kg towing capacity.

Both versions include a comprehensive five-year/150,000km warranty and an eight-year/200,000km battery warranty.

The distributor has yet to announce pricing, but a look at its website‘s claim of SA’s “most affordable 4×4 electric bakkie” should mean the Riddara RD6 will come in under the Maxus T90’s recommended price of R1,100,000. Enviro Auto says the RD6 will be available from May this year.