On July 9, Geely Radar announced that its first overseas subsidiary was officially established in Thailand. With this announcement, the Thai market will become Geely’s first independently operated overseas market. This marks that Geely Radar’s globalization strategy has entered a new stage of development.
Recently, the automaker announced a new name for its pickup brand – Radar – in international markets. The Radar will now be known as Riddara for markets outside China and will get a right-hand drive version.
As an economy with significant influence in Southeast Asia, Thailand has a long history of pickup truck culture and a good market environment. Pickup truck sales have long accounted for more than 40% of the automobile market, making it Thailand’s most popular vehicle model, far exceeding SUVs and sedans. Geely aims to win over the market with its electric Riddara pickup. To show its seriousness, Geely Radar has made solid moves in the Thai market. First, the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand met with Ling Shiquan, CEO of Geely Radar, and then Geely Radar announced that its pioneer products will participate in the 41st Thailand International Motor Expo and will be unveiled under the new brand name RIDDARA.
Now, it has announced the establishment of a Thai subsidiary, outlining how much it values ​​the Thai market. In the future, Geely Radar’s Thai subsidiary will independently operate the RlDDARA brand and serve as a springboard to establish a sound service network and create a right-hand drive market across ASEAN and the Pacific region.
Geely’s goal to win over new EV enthusiasts is on track as the Thai EV industry is rapidly developing. In 2023, Thailand’s annual sales of pure electric vehicles reached 68,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 405%, which increased the share of pure electric vehicles in Thailand’s total automobile sales from 1% in 2022 to 8.6%. It is estimated that in 2024, Thailand’s pure electric vehicle sales will reach 85,000-100,000 units, and the market share will rise to 10-12%.
Geely Riddara is wooing clients with the promise of clean energy and zero-carbon environmental protection. The Thai government also shares similar goals and has welcomed Geely. On March 27 this year, in Bangkok, Thailand, the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand received Geely Radar CEO Ling Shiquan and Geely Radar CFO Wang Daxue who came to Thailand for inspection. He said that he very much welcomes Geely Radar to invest in Thailand’s new energy vehicle industry. Geely Radar’s advanced technology and complete new energy pickup truck ecosystem entering Thailand will be an important engine to boost the upstream and downstream industries of the automobile industry. With the full support of Geely Group, Geely’s Riddara subsidiary in Thailand relies on forward-looking R&D technology and excellent product strength.
Riddara RD6 2WD Specs
| Battery Capacity | 63kWh, 86kWh |
| Drive Type | Two-wheel drive (rear-wheel) |
| 0 – 100km/h Acceleration | 7.3s |
| Horsepower | 200 kW |
| Peak Torque | 384 Nm |
| Ground Clearance | 220mm |
| Driving Range (CLTC Comprehensive Working Conditions) | 385km, 517km |
| Towing Capacity | 2,500 kg |
| DC Fast Charging (30%-80%) | 30mins, 32 mins |
| Household Slow Charging 7kW(20%-100%) | 7.9h, 11h |
| Electricity Consumption per 100km (kWh) | 17.5, 17.97 |
The Geely Riddara is available in 2WD and 4WD variants, but currently, it seems only the two-wheel version will be available in Thailand. The RD6 is built on the Multiplex Attached Platform (M.A.P), which it shares with other models from Zeekr’s range. Geely offers 63kWh and 86kWh battery pack options. With up to 200 kW in power, the truck moves from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and can charge from 30-80% in 30 mins. Towing capacity is pegged at 2,500 kg, while it has a 415 km range.
As of the time of writing, the Riddara RD6 sells for between 151,800 yuan ($20,870) and 221,800 yuan ($30,500 ) in China. We expect it to start at a lower price bracket in Thailand until it expands to other Southeast Asian auto markets.
Sources: Geely
