Geely's Riddara RD6 Brings a 315 kW Electric Bakkie to South Africa

Quick Facts

• Riddara is Geely Auto Group’s dedicated new-energy bakkie brand, launched in South Africa by Geely Auto South Africa (GASA) in August 2026
• Three derivatives, priced from R611,900 to R781,900
• Flagship Apex RD6 4WD produces 315 kW and 595 Nm, with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds
• Payload of up to 1,030 kg and towing capacity of up to 3,000 kg in the flagship model
• Claimed NEDC range of up to 424 km, with DC fast charging of up to 110 kW and 6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L)
• 6-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, 8-year/200,000 km battery warranty and 6-year/120,000 km service plan

Geely Auto South Africa has introduced Riddara, Geely Auto Group’s new-energy bakkie brand, to the South African market. The RD6 was built from the ground up as an electric bakkie rather than an electrified version of a diesel platform, and its philosophy is summed up in a single line: Function as a Bakkie. Drive as an SUV.

In a country where the bakkie is a way of life rather than simply a vehicle, the timing is deliberate. GASA COO Greg Maruszewski believes the RD6 marks a turning point. “The Riddara changes the conversation around electric bakkies.”

“Electric vehicles have always had the potential to deliver exceptional performance, but the Riddara demonstrates that this doesn’t have to come at the expense of the qualities that make a bakkie so versatile. It delivers the performance and dynamic response of a high-performance car, but it can also carry more than a tonne, tow up to three tonnes and tackle demanding terrain. For us, that combination is what makes the Riddara genuinely different.”

Riddara is the only bakkie brand within Geely Auto Group, and it draws on the group’s wider engineering and technology resources. The RD6 rides on the M.A.P Platform, China’s first native new-energy bakkie architecture, which was developed from Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA).

The platform was engineered to bring passenger-vehicle refinement to a bakkie without giving up the essentials. That means a quiet, spacious cabin, a low centre of gravity and instant electric torque, alongside the structural strength, load capacity and towing ability buyers expect from a serious working vehicle.

“It’s a bakkie that drives like an SUV but performs like a bakkie. We aim to reshape the way South Africa experiences bakkies, without the theft risk or operating costs that has become synonymous with other bakkies,” says Jateen Daya, Head of Product at Geely Auto South Africa.

The Apex RD6 4WD tops the local range with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing a combined 315 kW and 595 Nm. On Highway Terrain (HT) tyres in ideal conditions, it reaches 100 km/h from standstill in a claimed 4.5 seconds, a figure few would associate with a bakkie.

The system can shift between 2WD and 4WD in as little as 20 milliseconds, distributing torque according to the road surface and available grip. Drive modes cover Economy, Comfort, Sport, Sand, Mud and Off-road, while 225 mm of ground clearance and an 815 mm wading depth give the RD6 the credentials to leave the tar behind.

The RD6 uses a 73 kWh battery in its 4WD derivatives, with the flagship Apex claiming 424 km on the NEDC cycle. The high-voltage electrical system carries an IP67 rating and the battery itself is rated to IP68, adding protection against sand, water and other harsh conditions.

DC fast charging of up to 110 kW keeps downtime short, and 6 kW of V2L capability turns the bakkie into a mobile power source for tools, appliances and camping gear, or a backup supply during load-shedding.

Inside, the RD6 offers an SUV-style driving position, a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and wireless charging, with an eight-speaker audio system on the Apex. A flat floor gives rear passengers more room, and the second row has been designed with adults in mind.

The Apex adds a panoramic roof, leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. Storage is generous too, with 48 litres beneath the seats and a 70-litre front boot.

Riddara has deliberately moved away from conventional bakkie styling. A broad, upright stance, clean surfaces, distinctive LED lighting and an integrated load bed give the RD6 the presence of a bakkie with the proportions of an SUV.

It measures 5,260 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,880 mm tall, with a 3,120 mm wheelbase. Despite that size, its turning radius is 6.6 m.

The range opens with the Aspire Econ 2WD, which produces 180 kW and 309 Nm and is priced at R611,900. It uses a 63 kWh battery with a claimed range of 369 km. The Aspire Econ 4WD steps up to 280 kW and 485 Nm, with a 73 kWh battery and a claimed 390 km range, at R681,900. The flagship Apex RD6 4WD, with 315 kW, 595 Nm and a claimed 424 km range, costs R781,900.

Aspire models are offered in black, white and silver with a black interior. The Apex is available in green, blue, silver, grey and white, with interior options of Green or Tan and Refined Black.

Every RD6 comes with a 6-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/200,000 km battery warranty, a 6-year/120,000 km service plan and 5 years of unlimited roadside assistance, supported by a dealer network across South Africa and fully trained technical staff.

The first 200 buyers receive an extra year and 50,000 km on the vehicle warranty, plus an extra year and 20,000 km on the service plan.

For decades, South Africa’s bakkie market has relied on familiar ingredients: diesel engines, ladder frames and traditional styling. The RD6 neither turns a passenger car into a bakkie nor simply swaps a diesel engine for an electric motor. It was engineered from the start around a new-energy bakkie architecture.

“For Geely Auto South Africa, that makes the Riddara more than the launch of another electric vehicle. It represents an opportunity to start a new conversation about what the South African bakkie can be,” says Maruszewski.

Whether it’s the weekday commute, family duties or a weekend off the beaten track, the RD6 is built to handle it all. Book your test drive today and be among the first 200 owners to secure the extended launch benefits.