JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On August 28, Geely Riddara officially launched the right-hand-drive versions of the RD6 and RD6 ECON at the Festival of Motoring in South Africa. The launch further expands Riddara’s presence in Southern Africa and gives local consumers a new option in the new energy pickup segment.
At the launch event, Greg Maruszewski, Chief Operating Officer of Geely Auto South Africa said, “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.”
Riddara’s 4×4 track at the Festival of Motoring challenged media and visitors with steep gradients, side slopes, water crossings, and muddy terrain. The vehicles demonstrated strong performance, agile handling, and impressive off-road capability, receiving positive feedback for their performance and comfort.
Following the event, Riddara will participate in a cross-border expedition organized by Geely Auto. The journey will start in Johannesburg, South Africa, and continue to Xai-Xai, Mozambique, covering plateaus, valleys, grasslands and coastal areas. The long-distance journey across varying road conditions will further demonstrate the reliability and durability of the vehicles.
As the new energy pickup brand under Geely, Riddara has ranked No. 1 in China’s new energy pickup market for four consecutive years since 2023, with a 47.9% market share in July 2026. Riddara also ranks No. 1 in new energy pickup sales in markets including Thailand, Chile and Uruguay.
Supported by new energy technologies, Riddara combines power, payload capacity and all-terrain capability with enhanced ride comfort and operating efficiency. The four-wheel-drive RD6 delivers a maximum power output of 315 kW and maximum torque of 595 N·m, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and offers a payload capacity of 1,030 kg and a maximum towing capacity of 3 tonnes. Its intelligent electric four-wheel-drive system supports multiple driving modes for snow, mud, off-road terrain and water crossings, while four-wheel independent suspension enhances handling and ride comfort.
In terms of operating costs, new energy pickups provide a more economical option for a variety of working environments. Riddara vehicles are currently used in plant-protection drone operations in China, pest-control services in Thailand, construction in Saudi Arabia, ranching in Uruguay and mining in Chile, reflecting the potential operating-cost advantages of new energy pickups in real-world applications.
Moving forward, Riddara will continue to draw on the technological and industrial strengths of China’s new energy vehicle sector, expand its product portfolio to meet diverse market and customer needs, and offer global customers new energy pickups that combine performance, comfort, and operating efficiency.
Contact:
Leo Lu
riddara-global@geely.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/280602a3-f82f-4af8-a1b7-e54d26420b6b
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