New BYD Shark 6 rival looms: Geely reveals plug-in hybrid ute, but does the 2025 Radar RD6 PHEV have what it takes to challenge the Ford Ranger PHEV or GWM Cannon Alpha?

Geely has revealed a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its Radar RD6 ute at the Shanghai Motor Show.

The PHEV variant joins the range alongside the 2WD and 4WD fully electric versions, which have been on sale for some time in China.

A Radar representative from Geely said the company “definitely” wants to sell the ute in Australia, but is “still in the planning phase”.

The representative said the company would want to sell both the EV and PHEV.

He said the ute could arrive as soon as the end of 2025, as the Radar RD6 already sold in Thailand in right-hand drive, albeit badged Riddara.

It remains unclear whether Geely will launch Radar or Riddara as a sub-brand in Australia at this stage or sell it as a model under the already-established Geely marque, although the local division has previously hinted it would like to get its hands on the dual-cab if possible.

The all-wheel drive EV version, which has already launched in Thailand, can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds thanks to its dual-motor set-up that produce up to 315kW/595Nm. Its 86kWh battery pack grants it a 455km driving range, although this is according to the more lenient NEDC standard.

The Thai version can tow up to 3000kg, while the truck bed can hold 1200 litres and up to 1030kg. The RD6 also features a 70-litre frunk for additional storage.

DC charging is rated at a peak of 100kW, allowing a 10-80 per cent charge in 32 minutes, while a full charge on AC at 6.6kW takes 11 hours.

Little information is available on the PHEV version, but from what little we could tell from the panels available on the stand, the plug-in RD6 is powered by a 1.5-litre engine sporting a “three-in-one high-efficiency drive system” with “21 per cent lower fuel consumption than combustion pick-up trucks”.

It appears the RD6 PHEV is not a range-extender hybrid. The translated stand’s information said, the RD6 features “the pick-up truck industry’s first three-speed frequency conversion”, which appears to reference some sort of hybrid transmission, claimed to be “more suitable for commercial scenarios”.

A three-speed hybrid transmission is a commonly used solution on many hybrid vehicles, and is yet to be deployed on a ute. It stands apart from the unit found in the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrids already on sale in Australia.

The RD6 is also smaller and more passenger-car-like compared to its larger and more hardcore rivals in this space.

Additionally, the PHEV features the full array of discharging features, including vehicle-to-load to power external devices, and vehicle-to-grid, which is capable of powering an entire home.

Expect to learn more about the RD6 PHEV as it hits the market in China imminently.