China’s top electric pick-up is coming to Africa

From the newsletter

Geely’s Radar RD6, the best-selling electric pick-up truck in China, will be available in Africa for the first time. The veteran carmaker announced the vehicle, known outside China as the Riddara, is to make its debut this year. Geely has partnered with Enviro Automotive to sell the vehicle in South Africa, a key market for pick-ups. 

• The Radar RD6 is the market leader in China, where it maintained a market share of 61% between January and October 2023. The vehicle’s popularity stems from it being the first mass market fully electric truck produced in China. 

• In South Africa, it will compete for customers with other fully-electric pick-ups. The first was the SAIC MAXUS T90 EV, made by SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer. It was introduced in South Africa in 2023. The JAC Motors T8 EV pick-up is also sold locally. 

More details

• Geely Riddara already has a presence in over fifty countries and regions, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Central America, and South America. The company is targeting 30,000 units in global sales in 2025 which it expects will be boosted by its expansion into new markets. 

• The vehicle comes in both the 63 kWh rear-wheel drive and the 73 kWh all-wheel drive versions. The rear-wheel drive has an LFP battery pack providing a range of 377 km. The all-wheel drive version has two variants, the Pro version with the 73 kWh battery pack with a 424 km range and the Ultra version that has a 86 kWh battery and provides a range of up to 455 km. 

• Pick-ups are popular in South Africa, where they are commonly known as “bakkies”. The Toyota Hilux (ICE) has traditionally been the top selling vehicle in South Africa. The Ford Ranger and the Isuzu D-Max are also popular. 

• While traditional pick-ups dominate the market, electric alternatives are beginning to make an appearance. For example, the JAC Motors T8 EV and other models are being introduced to cater to the growing demand for sustainable commercial and personal vehicles.

• Besides fuel-powered and all-electric pick-ups, hybrid pick-ups are also gathering steam in South Africa, where US automotive giant Ford makes its Ford Ranger PHEV hybrid pick-up. The vehicle is expected to be made available for sale locally this year. Similarly, the BYD Shark hybrid pick-up is also set to be launched in the country. 

• The electric pick-up market in South Africa is poised for growth, especially as infrastructure improves and more models become available.South Africa's established automotive manufacturing sector presents an opportunity for local assembly or production of these electric pick-ups, which could reduce costs and create jobs.  

Our take

• The Radar RD6’s starting price of $20,410 in China puts it among the affordable electric pick-ups segment. This price could set it apart in Africa, where the price of most electric pick-ups is in excess of $60,000. 

• PHEV pick-ups are one way to get fence sitters to switch to EVs. PHEVs with electric ranges of 100–200 km would appeal to non-early adopters, especially in markets like Africa where charging infrastructure is not fully developed. 

• South Africa's limited EV charging infrastructure poses a challenge for widespread adoption of fully electric pick-ups. However, initiatives to expand charging networks, including solar-powered stations, are gaining traction.