The first shipments of the all-new GWM ORA 5 SUV have arrived in Australia, with vehicles landing at eastern seaboard ports ahead of deliveries to dealer showrooms across the country.
GWM says the new all-electric SUV will be available for test drives within days, giving prospective buyers their first opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of the most competitively priced electric SUVs in the Australian market.
The ORA 5 was first shown with driveaway pricing at the Melbourne Motor Show in April, and GWM says the response has been strong, with almost 3,000 expressions of interest recorded by dealers across Australia.
A new EV SUV at a key price point
The ORA 5 arrives as more buyers look for affordable electrified vehicles that can help reduce running costs without moving away from the SUV body style that dominates the Australian new car market.
GWM has positioned the ORA 5 as Australia’s most affordable SUV-based EV, with launch pricing starting from $33,990 driveaway.
The launch range includes two variants:
GWM ORA 5 SUV Lux – from $33,990 driveaway
GWM ORA 5 SUV Ultra – from $36,990 driveaway
The pricing places the ORA 5 in a competitive position for private buyers, novated lease customers and fleets looking for lower-cost electric options. It also gives GWM a stronger presence in the EV market after building momentum with hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
Dealer network ready for launch
GWM says the ORA 5 has been a model its 127-strong dealer network has been looking forward to for some time.
The combination of a fully electric powertrain, SUV packaging and value-led pricing is expected to appeal to buyers who may have been interested in EVs but were waiting for a more affordable option in a practical body style.
With vehicles now arriving and test drives about to begin, GWM expects the ORA 5 to become one of its core volume models as it works towards increasing market share in Australia.
Building GWM’s EV ambitions
GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer John Kett said the arrival of the ORA 5 marks an important step in the company’s EV strategy.
“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,” Kett said.
He said GWM’s broader strategy is to give more Australians access to smarter, safer and better-equipped vehicles at prices they can afford.
“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,” Kett said.
Another step in GWM’s new energy push
The ORA 5 joins GWM’s expanding new energy vehicle range at a time when the brand is already gaining traction with Australian buyers.
According to GWM, VFACTS year-to-date data shows the brand is Australia’s third-biggest PHEV brand and fourth-biggest hybrid brand. The arrival of the ORA 5, with more ORA models planned for launch this year, gives GWM an opportunity to build a stronger position in the battery electric vehicle market.
For fleets, the ORA 5 will be worth watching because price remains one of the major barriers to EV adoption. A sub-$35,000 driveaway electric SUV gives fleet managers, salary packaging providers and novated lease customers another option in the value end of the EV market.
