Confirmed! China’s Ora EV brand coming to Australia in 2022

The affordable Chinese electric vehicle brand Ora will launch in Australia in 2022, potentially setting a new more accessible price-point for EVs.

A division of GWM (Great Wall Motor), which already sells the GWM Ute and Haval SUV range in Australia, Ora will launch in 2022 along with another GWM spin-off, 4×4 specialist Tank.

The latter will make its own electrified statement, with petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains confirmed to be part of the launch line-up alongside conventional ICE drivetrains. GWM says this will be an Aussie first for the large off-road vehicle segment.

A hybrid Haval Jolion SUV has also been confirmed, alongside the previously confirmed Haval H6 Hybrid.

No specific model has been confirmed to lead Ora’s Australian entry, but it’s logical to suggest the Cat compact hatch will be at the forefront.

READ MORE: Here kitty … Chinese Ora EV brand could soon be in Australia
FULL DETAILS: New EV electric car calendar: Every new EV due soon

Australian GWM management has suggested a $40,000 starting price could be achievable for Ora.

Currently, the MG ZS EV wagon is the cheapest EV sold in Australia at $44,990 drive-away (an updated ZS EV is due in 2022). The Ora Cat could face pricing competition from the BYD EA1 if iit is not further delayed beyond 2022.

Sold as the Good Cat or Hao Mao in China, it was the feature display when Ora made its international debut at the Munich motor show last September.  

It has since been confirmed to go on-sale in the right-hand drive British market by late 2022.

Ora is the latest Chinese electrified brand to be linked with an Australian launch. Lynk & Co has confirmed it intends to be here by 2025, while Nio dropped a big hint over the weekend it will be on sale locally by the same year.

GWM’s local bosses have made no secret of their desire to bring both Ora and Tank to Australia and confirmation has come via a statement issued on the GWM global website.

“In 2022, the first batch of electric models will be launched in Australia, including the pure electric brand Ora, the hybrid third Gen Haval H6 and Haval Jolion,” the GWM document stated.

“Among them, the hybrid third Gen Haval H6 has gained a high degree of attention before its launching. At present, it has obtained more than one thousand intent orders, and many vehicle owners have expressed their expectation for hybrid models.”

As shown in Munich, the Ora Cat powers its front wheels via a single electric motor making 105kW and 210Nm, accelerates from 0-50km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 150km/h.

It has a claimed NEDC range of 400km with a 47.8kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack or 45.99kWh ternary lithium pack. A 500km range is claimed with a 59.1kWh ternary lithium battery pack.

Only in existence since 2018, Ora sells the Good Cat in China alongside the Black Cat and White Cat city cars and IQ SUV. Ora has also revealed the larger Lightning Cat, the Cherry Cat SUV and an obvious tribute to the VW Beetle, albeit with five-doors, called the Ora Punk Cat and Ora Ballet Cat.

No specific Tank models were confirmed in the statement either. However, the hybrid commitment suggests the 500 and/or 700 will be coming. Both are Toyota LandCruiser-sized ladder frame off-roaders.

“In order to bring diversified choices to consumers, the fuel version and hybrid version of the Tank series will be launched at the same time,” the GWM statement read.

“Tank hybrid series have both strong power and fuel economy, truly achieving a well balance of the two advantages, and will be the only off-road model equipped with hybrid power system in the Australian market.”

GWM has sold 20,539 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand January to November 2021, making it the company’s largest overseas market. Sales were up 253 per cent year-on-year.