Cheap electric ute coming! Chinese Geely Riddara RD6 to launch in Thailand as a monocoque alternative to Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz

Geely revealed a right-hand drive (RHD) version of its Radar RD6, known as the Riddara, three months ago and is gearing up for an official release.

The electric ute's latest update comes from Thailand, where the RHD model will be officially unveiled to the public at the Thailand International Automobile Expo in November. 

Thailand is one of the world’s ute heartlands and produces Australia’s two current favourite vehicles, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. Ute sales account for around 40 per cent of the Thai new-car market compared to roughly 20 per cent in Australia.

Geely has all-but confirmed it will launch in Australia with the Riddara RD6, after using LinkedIn to tease the right-hand drive model and advertise for an Australian Marketing Director role.

In China the RD6 is priced from the equivalent of about $38,000, which undercuts the majority of diesel powered utes in Australia.

Unlike the dominant utes in Australia that use a body-on-frame construction, the Geely Riddara sits on an adapted passenger car platform, just like Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Subaru Brumby car-based utes of old and the current Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick. 

Hyundai has found success in the North American market with its Santa Cruz and buyers have lapped up the excellent new Ford Maverick.

Geely Riddara interior (image: Geely/LinkedIn)

The next-generation Santa Cruz is believed to be headed to Australia.

The Riddara will launch in Thailand in rear-wheel drive using a single 200kW/384Nm electric motor driven by either a 63kWh or larger 86kWh battery pack, for between 385-517km driving range according to China’s lenient CLTC standard (expect closer to 320km and 440km in WLTP figures). 

A twin-motor all-wheel drive version, upping outputs to 315kW/594Nm, was revealed in China but is not yet confirmed for a Thai market release. If Geely is serious about targeting Australian buyers, this will need to be included in the local range. 

The rear-drive Riddara RD6 has reasonable specs, getting from rest to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds and replenishing 30-80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes.

Geely Riddara (image: Geely/LinkedIn)

Towing is rated at 2500kg while the payload maxes out at 755kg. Though the Riddara has a monocoque platform, the electric ute is still generously sized measuring 5260mm long, 1900mm wide and 1865mm with a 3120mm wheelbase.

The Riddara RD6 has a long rear overhang, which means its load is longer (but narrower) than a Ranger dual cab. It measures 1520mm long, 1450mm wide and 540mm deep. 

Suspension configuration is front struts with a multi-link independent rear axle. The Riddara’s Multiplex Attached Platform (MAP) is said to be derived from the Geely group’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) and been subjected to three years and over a million kilometres of development. 

If the Riddara comes to Australia it will be less rugged than other Chinese electric utes, such as the promised JAC T9 and mining-focused LDV eT60, with its eye set on lifestyle-oriented buyers. 

Geely Riddara (image: Geely/LinkedIn)

Geely/Riddara’s parent company, Geely Zhejiang Holding Group, is also an owner of Volvo, Polestar and Lotus. Its high-end Zeekr brand has locked-in a local launch for the end of this year with its Zeekr X SUV and 009 people mover. 

The Riddara ute could be followed by a number of Geely models, including the Galaxy E5 electric Tesla Model Y rival that has been confirmed as right-hand drive.