Affordable Chinese EV price battle! 2023 GWM Ora gets CHEAPER to take the fight to the BYD Dolphin and MG4 electric cars

GWM (Great Wall Motors) has cut a significant chunk from its Ora electric car’s pricing to better place it against affordable EV rivals the BYD Dolphin and MG4.

Now opening at $39,990 before on-road costs for the Standard Range variant, the Ora is $4000 more affordable than before and sits just north of the $38,890 BYD Dolphin Dynamic (Australia’s cheapest EV) and the $38,990 MG4 Excite 51.

While this puts the GWM Ora into the conversation when talking about Australia’s cheapest EVs, the brand’s local arm has chalked the price drop down to the falling costs of raw materials.

“The costs of battery technology (the largest single contributing component in EV cost) has fallen recently due to lower raw material prices,” the brand said in a release.

“This, along with other factors, has enabled GWM to reduce prices on the entire GWM Ora range commencing at the start of July.”

GMW’s mid-tier Ora Extended Range and top-spec GT have also come down in price by $2000 each, now wearing a $45,990 and $51,990 sticker price respectively.

But GMW has also introduced a new variant of the Ora to the line-up, the Ultra, which slots in between the Extended Range and GT at $48,990.

Now opening at $39,990 before on-road costs for the Standard Range variant, the Ora is $4000 more affordable than before.

And before we can get into what the Ultra offers for your spend, a reminder of what the Ora comes equipped with as standard.

The Standard Range grade features 18-inch wheels, a surround-view monitor, powered front seats, a two-tone interior, adaptive cruise control, and double 10.25-inch screens for the instrumentation and multimedia system.

The base Ora also features a 48kWh battery for a 320km range, while its electric motor outputs 126kW/250Nm to the front wheels.

Stepping up to the Extended Range adds a larger 63kWh battery to boost range to 420km, as well as keyless entry.

The Standard Range grade features double 10.25-inch screens for the instrumentation and multimedia system.

The new Ultra meanwhile, adds extra niceties like a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, power-adjustable side mirrors, auto park assist, and massaging, heated and cooled front seats, while retaining the same battery size and driving range as the Extended Range grade.

Finally, the top-spec GT gets a more potent electric motor output (though exact figures are still unknown) that cuts driving range down to around 400km, as well as a unique front grille, red-painted brake callipers, launch control and front cross-traffic alert.

GWM Australia is also throwing in a bonus wall-mounted home charging station with the purchase of any Ora Extended Range, Ultra or GT from this month, valued at $1690.

2023 GWM Ora pricing before on-road costs