All-electric addition for GWM

GWM is celebrating the arrival in New Zealand of the first shipments of its Ora 5 SUV, with the vehicles set to be delivered to showrooms across the country over the coming days.

The brand says that with the battery-electric cars being available imminently for test drives, strong sales momentum is expected from launch as GWM targets becoming one of the top five best-selling marques in New Zealand.

Launch pricing starts from $36,990 plus on-road costs for the Lux variant, while the Ultra model starts at $39,990.  

GWM says the addition of the Ora 5 to its line-up, with more Ora models slated for launch this year, provides it with an opportunity to become one of the country’s biggest EV brands. 

It notes that, according to NZTA data, GWM is third on the year-to-date sales ladder for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and fourth for hybrids. 

John Kett, GWM ANZ chief operating officer, adds: “It’s no secret that we’ve been keen to add a fully electrified SUV to the range for some time and the Ora 5 SUV is the perfect model to kick start GWM’s EV ambitions. 

“The philosophy at GWM is quite simple – to give more New Zealanders access to smarter, safer and better-equipped vehicles at a price they can afford, and the Ora 5 certainly meets that criteria. 

“The Ora 5 SUV’s class-leading technology and segment-leading pricing is a statement of GWM’s intent to ‘Drive to Top 5’ in the EV segment across the ANZ region. 

“While our range of hybrids and PHEVs have been chosen by an increasing number of New Zealand new car buyers, we’re confident that a new range of Ora EVs, starting with the Ora 5 SUV, will enable GWM to become the brand of choice for an even greater number of Kiwis wherever their powertrain preference lies.”