NZ's Latest Low-Cost Electric Vehicle

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【Summary】The GWM Ora, formerly known as the Ora Cat, is now the cheapest electric car in New Zealand, priced from $42,990. The price cut of $5,000 makes it cheaper than the previous cheapest EV in the country. With the Clean Car Discount rebate, the effective price is $35,975, making it cheaper than some Toyota Corolla variants. However, the rebate may be temporary depending on the outcome of the upcoming election.

FutureCar Staff Oct 05, 2023 6:16 AM PT

The GWM Ora, previously known as the Ora Cat, now has a starting price of $42,990. This comes as a result of aggressive cost cuts made by GWM sub-brand Ora, positioning it as a top contender in the affordable electric car market.

The local distributor of GWM has confirmed that the base Standard Range Ora hatchback is now priced at $42,990, while the flagship Long Range model is priced at $47,990. Both models have received a $5,000 price reduction from their previous prices of $47,990 and $52,990, respectively.

With this adjustment, the Ora Standard Range becomes the most affordable new pure electric vehicle available in New Zealand, surpassing the previous cheapest EV, the $46,990 MG4 51kWh Excite. Additionally, after factoring in the $7,015 Clean Car Discount rebate, the entry-level Ora effectively costs $35,975, making it slightly cheaper than the most affordable variants of the Toyota Corolla GX Hybrid hatch and Hybrid wagon, which are priced at $36,990.

It's important to note that the National Party has vowed to eliminate the Clean Car Discount if it comes into power later this year. Therefore, the price comparisons between the Ora and other sub-$40,000 internal combustion engine cars may only be temporary.

The Ora Standard Range is equipped with a 48kWh li-ion battery that offers a WLTP-rated range of 310km. It also features a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, faux leather upholstery, and automatic LED headlights as standard. On the other hand, the Long Range model has a larger 63kWh battery, providing a more generous range of 420km on the WLTP cycle. Both models are powered by a single electric motor that produces 126kW/250Nm and have received a 5-star safety rating from ANCAP.

In comparison, the entry-level MG4 Excite is priced at $46,990 and comes with a 51kWh battery, offering a range of up to 350km. It is powered by a single motor that generates 125kW/250Nm and has a larger boot capacity of 363L compared to the Ora's 230L.

Despite being on sale for just over a month, the MG4 has already surpassed the Ora in terms of popularity. In September alone, 250 MG4s were registered, surpassing the 129 registrations of GWM Oras between March and August of this year, according to the Motor Industry Association.