New GWM Ora pricing revealed – The most affordable electric car in South Africa

The new GWM Ora electric hatchback is being unveiled this upcoming week at Nampo Harvest Day from 16-19 May in the town of Bothaville, Free State.

The manufacturer has announced that the battery-electric Ora will retail from a starting price of R716,900 with the top-spec model coming in at R915,900.

This makes the new GWM the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) on the new-car market, undercutting the previous title holder, the Mini Cooper SE, by R25,202.

Ora specifications

GWM has confirmed that the new Ora will be driven by an electric motor producing 126kW and 250Nm, powered by a 48kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

A maximum driving range of 400km is on the cards – far higher than the Mini’s 217km – and the power module can be recharged with either an AC or DC outlet. Using an 80kW DC plug, it fills up from 10% to 80% in a time of 41 minutes.

“This is a significant step for GWM South Africa, especially as the car uses a Dragon Volt battery from SVolt Energy Technology Co. that is cobalt-free, as well as being long-lasting and extremely durable,” said Conrad Groenewald, Chief Operations Officer of Haval Motors South Africa.

The manufacturer has yet to confirm the Ora’s standard equipment or South African model line-up, which is expected to happen either at Nampo or when the EV officially launches toward the end of the second quarter/start of the third quarter of 2023.

We can look at its Australian spec sheet for a better picture of what it might offer, though.

In this market, it boasts leatherette upholstery, electric seats, automatic air conditioning, LED lights with high-beam assist, wireless charging, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and infotainment display, all-round parking sensors, 360-degree cameras, and smart keyless entry.

On the assistance front, the EV offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and traffic sign recognition.