The first units of a brand-new bakkie known as the Riddara RD6 have landed in South Africa.
The RD6 is an electric pickup produced by the Chinese carmaker Geely, which recently announced its intention to relaunch in our market.
The new bakkie will be locally distributed by the Enviro Automotive Group, which confirmed that the first examples have just arrived and that the vehicle will officially go on sale less than a month from now in May 2025.
“Enviro Auto is thrilled to announce the arrival of the first 100% electric Riddara RD6 bakkie in South Africa,” said CEO Gideon Wolfaardt.
“Manufactured by Geely, this innovative vehicle is set to transform the South African market with its exceptional performance, advanced technology, and eco-friendly electric powertrain.”
A new chapter for bakkies
The RD6 is technically not the first fully electric bakkie to make its way to South Africa, as Maxus currently sells the T90 double cab as a workhorse for commercial fleets.
The crucial difference is that the RD6 is meant for private consumers, and will be made available in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations.
At launch, both versions will feature a 73kWh battery that can do 424km on a single charge, which can be topped up in 30 minutes using a 110kW DC fast charger.
Later on, Enviro and Geely plan to launch two additional models – an 86kWh 4×4, and a 63kWh 4×2 – though the companies have not provided a timeline for their introduction.
One other interesting thing to note about the RD6 is that it supports bi-directional charging, supplying a 6kW current that can power appliances while camping or during load-shedding.
As for the vehicle’s performance, the 4×4 version features a pair of electric motors that generate a combined 315kW and 595Nm.
This impressive figure means the bakkie can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in roughly 4.5 seconds, making it even faster than the high-performance Ford Ranger Raptor.
Enviro did not disclose the figures for the rear-wheel-drive version, but a look at the models overseas indicates that we can probably expect a single e-motor with an output of 200kW and 384Nm, allowing it to reach 100km/h in approximately 7 seconds.
Also important to note is that the battery-powered bakkie can carry 1,000kg in the rear bed and tow up to 3,000kg.
Regarding its spec sheet, the overseas units suggest that South Africa can expect a lot of kit depending on the trim level, including Matrix LED headlights, a multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, an electric driver’s seat, six speakers, a panoramic camera system, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, and a 14.6-inch floating infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Enviro has yet to disclose the pricing and model lineup for the upcoming Riddara, but said that this information will be announced shortly.
It did confirm that each model will be sold with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and an 8-year/200,000km battery warranty.
Enviro Auto will also be responsible for parts, after-care service, and other essential requirements, said Wolfaardt.
Geely Riddara RD6
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