PREVIEW: GWM Philippines to enter EV segment with the Ora 03

The GWM Tank 300 isn’t the only vehicle that GWM Philippines previewed at its recent event, as the automaker also gave us a sneak peek of the GWM Ora 03 electric vehicle (EV).

While the EV is called the Good Cat in other markets, GWM gave it a different name for the local market. It is a retro-inspired hatchback with a modern and minimalist interior.

GWM says there are no official specifications for the Ora yet available. Still, a quick look at international models gave us a general idea of what to expect from the new EV.

Quirky exterior

On the outside, the GWM Ora has a retro style mixed in with a sleek and aerodynamic design. It has a round set of headlights, which are LED, no grille to speak of, and parking sensors at the front of the vehicle.

The back, the Ora, has a unique rear hatch as this is where the LED light bar acts as the car’s taillights. It's a rather unorthodox position for the taillights, but it works well, as you can easily spot it from a distance.

It also rides on 18-inch wheels which is surprising as its sleek body hides them well making think that they are a smaller size.

Clean interior

The cabin of the Ora is simple and clean, with a unique dashboard material. It looks like Alcantara but feels different. Nevertheless, the dashboard looks good and feels well-built as we were able to take it on a quick test drive around the parking area.

Aside from this, the EV also has a pair of large displays, with the first as the instrument cluster and the second as the infotainment system. We aren’t sure about the sizing as GWM didn't disclose any specifications, but we assume it's around 12.3 inches.

It also has a leather-lined interior with multi-function buttons and toggle switches that control its air conditioning system. Similar to the Haval H6, it also has a rotary shifter.

What about range and power?

GWM Philippines did not mention any power or range specifications for the EV. However, some detective work based on the remaining range that the vehicle had at the time (65% with 227km of range) reveals that the model we tested might be the entry-level variant that comes with 370 kilometers of range. 

A quick check of the Ora 03's charging port reveals that it can charge via AC or DC, which indicates that fast charging is available for the vehicle.

However, a top-spec variant is available in other countries with 500 km of range. As for its electric motor, it pushes out 145 PS and 210 Nm of torque, which is already decent for a car of its size.

There is no word on pricing, but the automaker wants to position the Ora 03 near the price point of the Nissan LEAF, which is just shy of 2 million pesos. GWM has yet to announce when it will officially launch the EV, but we can expect it sometime in early 2024.