Geely Riddara Thailand is considering plans for an EV production plant in Thailand, reported Bangkok Post, following the Thailand market launch of the Riddara RD6 electric pick-up truck in October 2024. According to Geely Riddara Thailand general manager Cao Feng, the pick-up truck segment in Thailand offers strong potential for BEVs despite a slowdown in overall pick-up truck sales. “This country is an opportunity market for the pickup segment. Even though sales have slowed, in the long term we are confident that electric pickups will continue to grow because they save more energy compared with those running on fossil fuels,” he said. Thailand is the first market that the Riddara brand has expanded to, outside China, and marketing efforts are underway in Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines, with opportunities in Malaysia being studied as well, according to the report. Geely Riddara Thailand is aiming for a sales volume of between 3,000 units and 5,000 units in Thailand this year, and to that end the company plans to introduce new models, including single-cab pick-up trucks, aimed at fleet customers as well as families, it added. At its Thai market launch, prices of the Riddara RD6 started from 899,000 baht (RM117,000) for the base rear-wheel-drive variant with the 63 kWh battery, up to 1,299,000 baht (RM169,000) for the top variant with dual-motor 4WD and the 86 kWh battery. In terms of charging, the RD6 with the 63 kWh battery takes up to 90 kW DC, which enables a 30-80% recharge in 32 minutes, while the 73 kWh battery is capable of 110 kW DC for the same recharge in 30 minutes. Variants with the 86 kWh battery take up to 100 kW DC, which also takes 32 minutes over the same 30-80% recharge measure. The RD6 in 2WD form has a water wading depth of 500 mm, while 4WD versions can manage up to 815 mm thanks to an additional 9 mm of ground clearance and improved sealing for better weatherproofing. 4WD variants also get increased towing capacity – to 3,000 kg, up from 2,500 kg of the 2WD – as well as snow, mud, cross-country and water wading drive modes. Cargo bed capacity is 1,200 litres, and rated payload is 1,030 kg. GALLERY: Riddara RD6 in Thailand Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Atome, Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater.