Cheapest electric vehicle in South Africa goes on sale – pricing and features

·15 Nov 2023

The GWM Ora 03 has finally launched in South Africa, with a starting price of R686,950 – making it the cheapest electric vehicle in the country right now.

“With ORA 03, we are introducing a new era for GWM locally, as we want to be part of the shift towards EV and a greener, sustainable future. We want to offer our customers a range of mobility solutions, from ICE, HEV to EV, and ORA is the product that will be driving our EV ambitions,” said Bianca van Staden, Head of Marketing, Brand & PR for HAVAL Motors South Africa.

Features

The hatchback model comes in four different versions, divided into two battery packs and three trim levels. The Ora 03 is equipped with a generous level of standard kit, making it an excellent value for money.

Across the Ora range, buyers can expect standard features such as:

All-round LED lights;
Electric wing mirrors;
18-inch alloy wheels;
Keyless entry on the driver’s door;
Leatherette seats with electric adjustability for the front row;
A wireless phone charger, a surround-view camera system, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, ABS, tyre-pressure monitoring, and six airbags; and
A 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and an infotainment system of the same size that offers Apple CarPlay, with Android Auto compatibility “coming soon”.

The mid-spec Ultra Luxury specification offers additional features such as an electric tailgate, front radar that automatically turns on at low speed, a panoramic sunroof, and memory functions for the driver’s seat and wing mirrors. In addition, the front seats are heated and ventilated and offer massage functions.

The top-spec GT Ultra Luxury comes with added features such as:

Automatic parking;
Traffic-sign recognition;
Intelligent speed assist;
Intelligent cruise control;
Intelligent turning control;
Traffic jam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and intersection assist;
Lane-change assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and centring;
Emergency lane-keeping, front and rear cross-traffic assistant with braking, front and rear-collision warning; and
A 360-degree panoramic camera and auto door lock and unlock when a collision occurs.

Performance

The new Ora comes in four different models, all of which have a front-mounted electric motor that can generate 126kW and 250Nm.

This allows the EV, which weighs 1.5 tonnes, to go from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 160km/h. You can choose between five driving modes – Auto, ECO, ECO+, Standard, and Sport – using a selector in the cabin.

The electric power steering system has three settings – Comfort, Light, and Sport. You can also choose between two different battery options: the standard-range 300 variant and the extended-range 400.

The 300 variant uses a 48kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery that can provide a total driving range of 310km, while the 400 variant uses a 63kWh nickel-manganese cobalt battery that can push the range up to 420km (400km on the GT Ultra Luxury).

“Taking into consideration a rate of around R3.50 per kWh for AC home charging, it will cost an owner approximately R170 to R250 to fully charge his or her Gwm Ora 03,” said GWM. “Using DC fast charging at a rate of R5.00 to R5.80 per kWh, the cost for a full charge will be around R250 to R300.”

The hatch measures 4,235mm long, 1,825mm wide, and 1,603mm tall, affording 228 litres of luggage space with the rear seats fixed in position, expanding to 858 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Price

The South African pricing and model line-up for the new GWM Ora 03 are as follows:

GWM Ora 03 300 Super Luxury – R686,950
GWM Ora 03 400 Super Luxury – R775,950
GWM Ora 03 400 Ultra Luxury – R805,950
GWM Ora 03 400 GT Ultra Luxury – R835,950

Each purchase is accompanied by a 7-year/200,000km vehicle warranty, 8-year/150,000km warranty on high-voltage parts, 7-year/105,000km service plan, and 7-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.

GWM Ora 03 GT Ultra Luxury