Last Updated on 18/10/2025 by Raj

The Quiet Storm: How the 2026 Geely Riddara RD6 Is Redefining Southeast Asia’s Pickup Story

The 2026 Geely Riddara RD6 is not just an electric pickup — it’s a reflection of Southeast Asia’s transition to clean mobility. Here’s the complete story on how it was made, how it was designed, what it’s capable of, how it’s safe, and why it’s going to change what a pickup truck can do.

A New Legend Is Born

Some revolutions start with din — rumbling motors, screeching exhausts, billows of dust. That one started in silence.

In a part of the world where diesel engines are essentially background music to everyday existence, the 2026 Geely Riddara RD6 showed up as a stealth storm. No smoke, no rumble — merely instant torque and serene self-assurance.

When Geely’s new electric arm, Radar Auto (Riddara in SEA), initially hinted at the RD6, not many thought an electric pickup could endure the Southeast Asian roads’ madness. Floods, heat, potholes, mountains of a road — all on the daily commute. But fast forward to 2026, and the RD6 is not only surviving, it is thriving.

Thailand experienced it first. A country of pickup enthusiasts, once wedded to Toyota Hiluxes and Isuzu D-Maxes, overnight had something completely different — a vehicle that could tow, haul, run, and yet purr down the highway. And that’s when the narrative shifted.

The Riddara RD6 is not merely a truck. It is an invitation to an age-old myth: that “power” is also necessarily pollution.

Inside the Beast: The Luxury of Simplicity

Get into the Riddara RD6, and the first thing that hits you isn’t the quiet — it’s the calm.

The cabin feels almost Scandinavian in design: clean lines, subtle textures, and a minimalism that radiates confidence rather than emptiness. There’s a large touchscreen at the center, digital dials that come to life with soft light, and a sense of space that you’d expect from a high-end SUV, not a workhorse pickup.

Soft-touch surfaces glide over the dashboard. Doors close with a solid thud. And though it appears sleek, it’s tough as nails — every surface has the look of being able to withstand muddy boots and the hard edges of reality.

You might call it “industrial elegance.” The Riddara RD6 eschews attempts at mimicry in favor of forging its own path.

Beneath that polish is practical brilliance: cavernous storage areas, spacious armrests, and even concealed cubbies that seem to be made for individuals who reside in their trucks. Toss in ambient lighting, ventilated seats, and an unexpectedly easy-to-use infotainment system, and it’s apparent: Geely’s not selling an EV; they’re selling comfort without concession.

Electric Power, Human Emotion

Under the hood — or, more accurately, under the floorboard — is what truly makes the RD6 stand out.

It has three battery packs available (63 kWh, 73 kWh, and 86 kWh), propelling rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive arrangements. Depending on the model, you have between 373 to 503 kilometers of driving range.

That’s more than ample to do a day’s work, a weekend excursion, or a trip between two borders — something not too many electric pickups can attest.

But statistics only reveal half the story. The magic is in the sense. Press the accelerator pedal and the torque — as much as 595 Nm in the top-of-the-range model — comes instantly, cleanly, quietly. No revving. No hesitation. A smooth surge forward, as though an unseen force was urging you along the road.

The 0-100 km/h dash? Approximately 4.5 seconds in the 4WD model. But whereas conventional trucks struggle to gain speed, the RD6 just flows — elegant but uncompromisingly forceful.

And when the pavement disappears, it’s no urban pretender. The 815 mm wading depth, 3,000 kg towing capacity, and 1,200-liter cargo space attest that it’s designed for the real world — not just selfies.

You might call it a monk in the city and a warrior in the mud.

Built Smart, Built Safe

The RD6 isn’t solely about power — it’s about brains. Geely loaded it with more than 14 sophisticated driver-assist systems (ADAS), making it one of the safest trucks ever sold in its class.

There’s Adaptive Cruise Control that’s a mind-reader of traffic, Lane Keep Assist that quietly steers you straight, Blind-Spot Monitoring that picks up what you miss, and a 360° camera system making parking this monster as simple as a city car.

And then there are the structural reinforcements — a body made of high-strength steel, multi-airbag defense, and regenerative feedback advanced braking. Not just designed to safeguard — to prevent.

In a world where safety comes second to price, the RD6 turns the whole script on its head.

More Than Just a Truck: It’s a Lifestyle Machine

You can haul lumber, yeah. But you can also run your campsite.

With V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) technology, the RD6 can be converted into a portable generator, charging lights, appliances, or even a small food cart. That one feature alone has given it cult status among outdoor users and small business operators in Thailand and Malaysia.

It's not just a pickup truck anymore — it's a mobile ecosystem.

Imagine this: you’re deep in the jungle, grilling under the stars, phone charging from the tailgate socket, cool air from a portable fan running off the RD6’s battery. That’s not marketing fantasy. That’s Tuesday for an RD6 owner.

Pricing and Availability

In Thailand, prices start at around THB 899,000 and go up to THB 1.3 million, depending on the configuration.

That equates to around USD 24,000–34,500, positioning it in the same price range as mid-duty diesel pickups — but RD6 costs significantly less to operate.

Charging becomes more convenient too, with Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines quickly growing fast-charging infrastructure. A DC fast charger has the ability to charge the RD6 from 30% to 80% in under 40 minutes, offering it real-world usability for daily and work purposes.

The RD6 Econ, a budget-friendly commercial model, is rolling out in Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines through 2025 and 2026 — evidence that Geely is serious about making electric pickups mainstream, not niche.

Why It Matters…?

The RD6 is more than an EV launch — it’s a shift in thinking.

For decades, Southeast Asia’s pickup culture has been one of toughness and tradition. The Riddara RD6 honors that legacy but infuses it with intelligence, sustainability, and emotion. It dares drivers to appreciate both torque and quiet — to appreciate strength that doesn’t scream.

And it’s also a strategic coup by Geely. By attacking a segment untouched by Tesla or Rivian, they’ve staked a claim on a territory that breathes pickups.

If the Hilux created the legend, the RD6 is penning the sequel — quiet, sleek, and electric.

The Ups and the Downs

The Good:

Breathtaking torque and instant acceleration

Whisper-quiet ride and plush interior

Real pickup capability — payload, towing, wading

Loaded with safety and tech

Eco-friendly, low running cost

The Not-So-Good:

Charging infrastructure still patchy in rural areas

Slightly heavier than diesel competition

Unknown long-term durability (new tech, new platform)

Early availability restricted to limited markets

The Final Word

The 2026 Geely Riddara RD6 is more than a pickup truck — it’s a declaration of intent. A mobile manifesto that affirms power can be quiet, sustainability can be enjoyable, and the future won’t wait.

It’s not coming to replace your existing truck. It’s coming to transform it.

And in a world where all manufacturers say they’re reinventing something, Geely did. The RD6 doesn’t require you to sacrifice duty for thrill — it offers you both, in one quiet, fashionable, untoppable vehicle.

When the dust settles — or maybe, when the quiet settles — the Riddara RD6 may be the truck that fell in love with electric down in Southeast Asia.