Built as a new-energy bakkie rather than an electrified diesel platform, the Riddara combines the practicality and capability expected of a bakkie with the refinement, performance and driving experience of a modern SUV. Its philosophy is simple: Function as a Bakkie. Drive as an SUV.
And in a market where the bakkie is far more than a vehicle , it is a way of life , Riddara believes the time is right to challenge convention. GASA COO, Greg Maruszewski concurs: “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.”
A BAKKIE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
The RD6 is based on the M.A.P Platform, China's first native new-energy bakkie architecture, developed from Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). The platform has been engineered specifically to combine passenger-vehicle refinement with bakkie capability.
The result? A vehicle that delivers a quiet, refined and spacious cabin, a low centre of gravity and instant electric torque while retaining the structural strength, load-carrying capability and towing ability expected from a serious bakkie.
“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.
PERFORMANCE THAT CHANGES EXPECTATIONS
At the top of the South African range, the Apex RD6 4WD delivers performance that would be unexpected from a traditional bakkie. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces a combined 315 kW and 595 Nm, enabling a 0–100 km/h time of just 4.5 seconds with Highway Terrain (HT) tyres ideal operating conditions.
The system can switch between 2WD and 4WD in as little as 20 milliseconds, intelligently distributing torque according to driving conditions and available traction.
For drivers venturing beyond the tar, the RD6 offers dedicated drive modes including Economy, Comfort, Sport, Sand, Mud and Off-road, while its 225 mm ground clearance and 815 mm wading depth provide the capability needed for more demanding terrain. The RD6's bakkie credentials extend to its practical capability, with a payload of up to 1,030 kg and towing capacity of up to 3,000 kg in the flagship model.
ELECTRIC POWER WITHOUT COMPROMISING UTILITY
Riddara's electric architecture brings another dimension to the traditional bakkie formula. The RD6 features a 73 kWh battery, while the flagship Apex 4WD offers a claimed 424 km NEDC range.
The vehicle's high-voltage electrical system is rated to IP67, while its power battery carries an IP68 protection rating, providing additional confidence when tackling challenging conditions entailing sand,water etc.
DC fast charging of up to 110 kW allows rapid recharging, while the vehicle's 6 kW V2L capability transforms the RD6 into a mobile source of electricity , allowing owners to power equipment, appliances and outdoor activities, or provide an additional source of power during load-shedding.
SUV REFINEMENT IN A BAKKIE
The RD6, features an SUV-like driving position, a 14.6-inch infotainment display, 10.2-inch digital driver display, wireless charging and an eight-speaker audio system in the Apex derivative.
The rear cabin has also been designed with adults in mind, with the flat-floor architecture creating a more accommodating second row.
Premium touches on the Apex include a panoramic roof, leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, reinforcing Riddara's positioning as a lifestyle vehicle rather than simply a workhorse. Further to that storage space is also premium with 48L under the seats and 70L in the frunk.
The Riddara will launch three derivatives, giving customers a choice between performance, four-wheel-drive capability and value.
| GEELY RIDDARA RANGE | ||
| Aspire Econ 2WD | 180 kW, 309 Nm | R 611,900.00 |
| Aspire Econ 4WD | 280 kW, 485 Nm | R 681,900.00 |
| Apex RD6 4WD | 315 kW, 595 Nm | R 781,900.00 |
The two 4WD derivatives use a 73 kWh battery, with claimed NEDC ranges of 424 km for the Apex RD6 4WD, 390 km for the Aspire Econ 4WD and a 63 kWh battery allows 369 km for the Aspire Econ 2WD.
The Aspire comes in 3 external colors – black, white and silver and 1 interior color, in black. The Apex comes in green, blue, silver, grey and white. The interior of the Apex comes in Green or Tan and Refined Black
The range also comes with a comprehensive ownership package designed to give customers confidence in making the transition to an electric bakkie which includes.
- 6-year / 150,000 km vehicle warranty
- 8-year / 200,000 km battery warranty
- 6-year / 120,000 km service plan
- 5-year unlimited roadside assistance
- Extensive dealer network across South Africa
- Fully trained technical personnel
This aftercare commitment forms an important part of GASA's strategy to ensure that Riddara is supported as a genuine long-term proposition rather than simply introduced as a new vehicle, as has become the norm with all Geely vehicles.
DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE THE FUTURE OF THE BAKKIE
Riddara's design deliberately moves away from the traditional visual language of a conventional bakkie.
Its broad, upright stance, clean surfacing, distinctive LED lighting and integrated cargo bed create a vehicle that combines the presence of a bakkie with the proportions and visual sophistication of an SUV.
The result is a vehicle designed equally for the weekday commute, family life, weekend adventures and serious outdoor use.
With an overall length of 5,260 mm, width of 1,900 mm, height of 1,880 mm and a 3,120 mm wheelbase, the RD6 provides substantial road presence while maintaining a 6.6 m turning radius.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN BAKKIE
For decades, the South African bakkie market has been dominated by familiar formulas, diesel engines, ladder frames and traditional bakkie design.
Riddara arrives with the ambition to challenge that formula. It does not attempt to turn a passenger car into a bakkie. Nor does it simply replace a diesel engine with an electric motor.
Instead, it has been engineered from the outset around a new-energy bakkie architecture, combining the strengths of an electric vehicle with the functionality South Africans expect from a bakkie.
“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”- Greg.Maruszewski , COO Geely Auto South Africa.
A bakkie that drives like an SUV. A bakkie that performs like a bakkie. And a bakkie designed to offer South Africans a new way forward.
