GWM Ora: Tentative pricing for SA’s cheapest electric car revealed

The GWM Ora will make its public debut at the NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show and will be installed as South Africa’s cheapest electric car.

Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) has released pricing ahead of its new electric car, the GWM Ora, that’s set to make its local debut at the NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show taking place from Tuesday, 16 May to Friday, 19 May.

For context, the GWM Ora is larger than a Volkswagen Polo but smaller than a Golf. In terms of range, the hatchback offers either 310km or 420km depending on the size of the battery pack fitted to the model options, according to Australian motoring publication Car Expert.

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Great Wall Motors has not confirmed which battery options they will introduce locally, however in other markets 48kWh and 63kWh batteries are available.

Charging time is pretty swift if there’s an 80kW DC charger available, with GMW quoting a duration of 40 minutes required for the Ora to charge from 10% to 80%.

GWM has deemed one electric motor sufficient to power the Ora as it’s a small hatchback with power outputs of 126kW and 250Nm, according to IOL.

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The Mini Cooper SE held the title of South Africa’s most affordable electric car retailing for R742 102, according to IOL.

Its more powerful than the GWM Ora with power outputs of 135kW and 270Nm. In terms of range, Mini says the Cooper SE has 217 of claimed range.

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As for pricing for the GWM Ora, the carmaker says it will retail from R716 900 to R915 900.

For most South Africans looking to buy a new car that sticker price remains a daunting figure, and perhaps a hybrid-powered car is a better option.

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