ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Capital Smart Motors has unveiled the country’s first range-extended electric vehicle, the Forthing Friday REEV. With a combined electric and fuel-based range of up to 1,150 kilometres, the launch signals a departure from conventional plug-in hybrids and an embrace of next-generation electric mobility.
Unlike typical battery electric vehicles that often struggle with infrastructure gaps and range anxiety, the Friday REEV offers a dual solution: the environmental benefits of pure electric drive combined with the reassurance of a built-in fuel-powered range extender. The result is a vehicle engineered for both intra-city and cross-country use.
Presented as a major leap in Pakistan’s green transport ambitions, the Friday REEV is built on Dongfeng’s EMA-E platform and shares much of its core architecture with the globally marketed Friday EV. However, the addition of a range extender sets it apart, granting it capabilities that challenge limitations seen in earlier plug-in hybrids and short-range EVs.
At its core, the REEV can travel up to 440 kilometres on electric power alone. Once depleted, the internal combustion engine activates not to drive the wheels, but to recharge the battery and extend the total range beyond 1,000 kilometres — a critical advantage in markets where charging networks remain underdeveloped.
The SUV-style vehicle comes equipped with advanced features including a rotating 14.6-inch infotainment screen, Level 2 ADAS, a heat pump system, and dual-screen digital cockpit. It is also fitted with a Bosch electronic braking system, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, panoramic sunroof, and a suite of driver-assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring.
Capital Smart Motors described the launch not simply as a product release but as a redefinition of automotive progress. “This is not just another EV,” a spokesperson said. “It is a marker of evolution — a shift in the way we think about long-range travel in electric mobility.”
The vehicle is also expected to compete in the upper-mid pricing segment, alongside hybrid models from Toyota and Haval that currently retail between PKR 8 million and PKR 15 million.
The REEV’s entry into Pakistan comes at a time when governments globally are rethinking subsidies and infrastructure investment for electric vehicles. Domestically, the move is likely to add pressure on both public and private stakeholders to scale up the country’s charging ecosystem, which remains in its infancy.
For consumers, however, the Friday REEV promises an all-new proposition: no compromises on distance, no stress about charging points, and no emissions in day-to-day driving.∎
