China’s Geely Radar electric ute two big steps closer to Australia

The Radar RD6 electric ute from Chinese car giant Geely has taken two giant leaps towards an arrival in Australian showrooms.

Geely announced over the weekend the ute – unveiled for China nearly two years ago – is now manufactured in right-hand drive, promising on its global social media channels it will be «available in your market soon!»

And the Chinese car giant has cleared another hurdle facing its Australian launch – its name.

Rather than Radar – an Australian trademark for which was blocked by a Singapore-based tyre company that sells Radar tyres in various countries – the electric ute now appears set to be known as the Riddara.

MORE: Geely Radar electric ute hits hurdle in Australia

Visible on the bonnet of the right-hand-drive RD6 in Geely's images, Riddara has been trademarked by the Chinese car giant in Australia without opposition – filed one day after Drive reported on the opposition to the Radar name last year.

According to a new website for the brand – which appears to have been designed by an Australian software firm – «Riddara is an international pick-up truck brand owned by Radar Auto,» suggesting the name will be reserved for export markets.

Drive has contacted Riddara – and parent company Geely – for more information on plans to sell the ute in Australia, and will update this story if a response is received.

«There are plans for global markets, but we can’t comment on roll-out plans and timings yet,» a spokesperson for Geely told Drive at the unveiling of the Radar RD6 ute for China in 2022.

Production of export-market RD6 electric utes for left-hand-drive countries – wearing Geely badges, rather than Radar or Riddara – commenced in July 2023.

At 5260mm long, 1900mm wide and 1865mm tall, on a 3120mm wheelbase, the Radar RD6 is a similar size to a Toyota HiLux, but rides on car-derived underpinnings with four-wheel independent suspension, rather than a heavy-duty ladder frame.

The tray measures 1525mm long, 1425mm wide and 540mm high, which is slightly smaller than the tubs of Australia's top-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

The Riddara website lists a choice of 63kWh or 86kWh batteries for export markets – with claimed Chinese lab-tested driving