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Australia’s cheapest electric SUV right now is poised to gain an even-cheaper hybrid (HEV) sister model before long.
The Ora 5 EV lands in showrooms later this month from a headline-making $33,990 (all prices are drive-away), but the Ora 5 HEV may cost considerably less, even dipping below $30,000 for the entry-level Lux grade.
This comes after the consistently poor sales of the now-discontinued Ora hatch (that inexplicably cost $2000 more than the Ora 5 EV SUV) in this market.
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“Our focus right now is on launching the Ora 5 SUV (EV),” said GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver.
“We think it's the right car at the right time. We've been pretty aggressive in terms of our positioning and our pricing. We see an opportunity, so that's why we've done that.
“But… the way we've positioned the Ora 5 SUV, has been intentional in terms of where that's going to position other models around that as well. So, read into that what you will. We’re pretty happy with Ora pricing right now. It is resonating, but it does leave us options either side of it.”
With the uncertainty surrounding fuel prices, the booming popularity of EVs may be short-lived, meaning that GWM is probably hedging its bets by offering broader electrification choices for consumers in Australia like the Ora 5 HEV.
“There will be further expansions that come in the Ora range this year,” Maciver added. “You’re going to see possibly one and even two additional Ora models to land in Australia this year as well.
“(But) at this stage, Ora is focused on EV. There may be hybrid options in there as well… we’re not committing one way or another, but again, we’ve got plenty of options. We’ve just got to work out what the right one for us is.”
There may be further, different Ora models coming beyond the 5 SUV, though what these are remain a tightly-held secret. Predictions include a larger SUV and a city-sized runabout.
“There are other vehicles which we have seen, which were very keen on, which have not yet been reviewed publicly, which are very much on our radar to add to the Ora portfolio,” Maciver teased.
In China, the Ora 5 is available with three powertrain choices.
The EV features a 150kW/260Nm electric motor and 58.3kWh battery pack for a range claim of about 430km (all figures are WLTC).
The HEV pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor for a combined 164kW of power and 476Nm of torque, averaging 5.1 litres per 100km for over 1000km of range.
The solely internal combustion engine variants come as either a 105kW/210Nm naturally-aspirated or 118kW/270Nm turbo versions, for a 6.7L/100km rating.
Along with the different powertrain, the Ora 5 HEV comes with reduced cargo capacity, falling from the EV’s 422 litres to 390L without a spare wheel, or from 362L to just 272L with one.
Maciver added that he is buoyed by the pre-launch reaction to the Ora 5 EV’s pricing.
“That’s had a really, really strong reception so far, taking a good amount of orders within the first couple of weeks,” he said.
“We've said all along that, with Ora, if we can get an EV powertrain into an SUV bodystyle, we will do well with it. Now, obviously, the timing for us has been very fortuitous right now, but that car has really hit the ground running.”
The Ora 5 EV’s $33,990 pricing undercuts all rival EV SUVs, including the BYD Atto 2 from around $35,500, Jaecoo J5 EV from $36,990 and ageing Chery E5 from $37,990.
There are cheaper non-SUV EVs, such as the BYD Atto 1 hatchback from around $27,100, not-so-small MG 4 Urban hatch from $31,990, GAC Aion UT hatch from $32,990 and BYD Dolphin hatch from about $33,400.
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