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Chinese language auto large Geely’s Riddara RD6 electrical ute has been launched in New Zealand with the identical worth as the favored BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute – NZ$69,990 (~A$63,350) earlier than on-road prices – forward of first buyer deliveries throughout the ditch in September.
Confirmed final 12 months for worldwide export markets together with Australia, the place it will likely be generally known as the Riddara RD6 slightly than the Radar RD6 as in China as a result of a trademark dispute, the battery-electric dual-cab ute additionally hits the Kiwi market at across the similar worth because the mid-range diesel-powered Ford Ranger XLT dual-cab 4×4.
If it launches with the same worth in Australia, the RD6 can be by far the most affordable all-electric ute to be bought Down Below, the place the LDV eT60 grew to become the primary and thus far solely such car accessible in 2022, priced at $92,990 earlier than on-road prices.
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Nevertheless, the rear-wheel drive eT60 will quickly get replaced by the newer, four-wheel drive LDV eTerron 9 dual-cab, whereas a number of different dual-cab 4×4 electrical utes, together with the Isuzu D-Max EV.
To this point there’s no signal of the lately confirmed plug-in hybrid model of the Riddara RD6 being launched in New Zealand (not to mention Australia), the place the pure-electric RD6 dual-cab can be accessible in a single high-spec mannequin variant.
The NZ-spec RD6 is fitted with dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain providing a complete system output of 315kW of energy – sufficient for Geely to say a 0-100km/h dash time of simply 4.5 seconds.

Each electrical motors are fed by a 73kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a claimed WLTP vary of 360km.
Single-motor variations and a spread of different energy pack choices together with smaller LFP batteries and bigger nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries providing capacities of as much as 100kWh can be found in different markets.
Nevertheless, a key distinction to the eT60, eTerron 9, D-Max EV, plug-in hybrid utes just like the Shark 6, Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – and in reality each different ute accessible in Australia – is that the RD6 relies on a car-like monocoque platform, slightly than a extra rugged ladder body.

Nonetheless, New Zealand’s RD6 nonetheless presents a most payload of 1030kg and a braked towing capability of 3000kg, which is lower than Australia’s hottest diesel utes however greater than the Shark 6.
The Riddara title was trademarked in Australia by Geely in March 2023, and the RD6 is anticipated to be bought alongside present Geely fashions together with the Geely EX5 mid-size electrical SUV and the Starray EM-i mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV throughout the Geely Auto Australia vendor community.
Moreover its namesake model and Radar/Riddara, the Geely group contains a number different auto manufacturers together with Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr, all of that are distributed in New Zealand by the Giltrap Group’s new NordEast division.
MORE: Discover the Geely showroom