Great Wall’s Ora Good Cat EV due for NZ launch this year

Great Wall Motors’ affordable electric brand, Ora, is set for its New Zealand debut later this year, with its first model scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter.

While the news has yet to be formally confirmed by the marque, the news has nevertheless been broken by the launch of a new website for Ora’s Christchurch branch.

Part of Cockram Motor Group, a website has been unveiled for Cockram Ora. It boasts that the dealership will be based in the Christchurch central city on the corner of Montreal Street and St Asaph Street.

The website profiles the Ora Good Cat; a retro-styled five-door hatchback that is likely to contend for the crown of cheapest electric vehicle in the country.

A representative from Cockram Motor Group shared the new website on social media earlier today, stating that the first Good Cats will land in the country in Q4 of 2022.

EVs and Beyond has requested comment on the news from a regional Great Wall Motors (GWM) representative.

“We’ve basically just built our own ‘register your interest page’ for Christchurch/Canterbury prospects with pricing and full specs still TBC,” a Euromarque spokesperson told EVs & Beyond.

“I’m imagining all other dealers will follow suit in coming months.”

The news comes on the same day that Ateco announced it would be the local distributor for BYD, a different Chinese manufacturer specialising in electric vehicles, and also new to the New Zealand market. Its first EV, the Atto 3, is set to debut locally later this year.

Imagery on the Cockram Ora website shows the Good Cat in two different trim levels. One appears to evoke a ‘premium’ positioning, with two-tone upholstery inside and quilted finishing on the electric, massaging front seats.

The other appears to be more on the sporty side. Shown in only the one exterior image, it features larger wheels, a more aggressive front fascia design, black plastic wheel-arch cladding, and a red and black interior.

While pricing for the model has yet to be confirmed, the representative who published the Cockram Ora website on social media said that the model will be priced underneath the $80,000 Clean Car Discount cap.

The Good Cat is available overseas with two different battery options, in the form of either a 49kWh LFP unit or a 63kWh NCA unit. These offer a claimed 400km and 500km of range, respectively.

Each comes with the same electric motor, producing 105kW of power and 210Nm of torque. In other markets, the 49kWh model is offered in two trim levels titled ‘Tech’ and ‘Pro’, while the 63kWh model is offered in just the one trim level, titled ‘Ultra’.

The arrival of Ora comes during a time of growth for the GWM sales network. GWM itself recently had a relaunch of sorts, with the launch of the well-received GWM Cannon double-cab ute. Haval, meanwhile, has recorded impressive sales figures via its new Jolion and H6 SUVs.

Numerous new and returning electric-focused brands have announced plans to launch in New Zealand in the last 18 months. These brands include Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Opel, BYD, and now Ora.