Will we get the Ora Good Cat in New Zealand? – Stuff.co.nz

The Ora Good Cat is probably one of the best-looking vehicles to come out of China recently, even if it has a slightly weird name. Its built by Great Wall Motors (GWM), which opens up a potential pathway into New Zealand, but will we get it here?

Well, aside from the Great Wall link, theres more reason to think it will be sold here. GWM over in Australia has confirmed it will bring the Ora brand to those roads, but it hasnt said which models will be chosen for import.

The Good Cat is a good bet, as it turns out, as its a tad smaller than the Volkswagen Golf about between a Yaris and a Corolla but should be priced quite well for a fully electric car.

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The Ora Good Cat might have a weird name, but its undoubtedly good-looking.

Two battery options are available overseas, a 48kWh lithium-ion phosphate pack, and a larger 63kWh ternary lithium unit. Range is rated at 336km for the 48kWh battery or 420km for the 63kWh pack.

READ MORE:* It's not all one-way traffic for China's EV makers* Toyota taps BYD for new battery tech* Great Wall's electric ute set to offer 450km of range

Figuring out the motor set-up is a bit more tricky, as the Chinese and Thai models get a 105kW/210 electric motor, while the European and top-rung Chinese models get a stronger 126kW/250Nm. We suspect Australia will want the more powerful option.

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Could this be the bargain small EV weve been waiting for?

Interestingly, it looks like it will be marketed as Good Cat, rather than using the Ora Cat 01 badge used in Europe.

Pricing will be another point to watch, as the Good Cat is quite the bargain over in China, with prices starting at 115,000 yuan for the entry model to 149,000 yuan for the flagship (about NZ$27,000 to about NZ$35,000).

Even if that price topped out at $45k in New Zealand, it would be the cheapest EV in the country by a fair bit, taking into account the $8.6k Clean Car rebate. Currently, that honour stays with the MG ZS EV, which costs $48,990 ($40,365 after rebate).

The Good Cats standard kit includes LED headlights, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, and keyless entry, but the base Chinese model misses out on autonomous emergency braking, as well as any other active safety features.

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A minimal interior to go with the minimal exterior.

Australia will only take models that have AEB, but the more safety features the better.

Other versions get adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, sunroof, leather steering wheel and upholstery, and optional heated seats and a better sound system.

Hopefully GWM New Zealand will manage to bring the Good Cat here, as it could be the bargain small EV many are waiting for.

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Will we get the Ora Good Cat in New Zealand? - Stuff.co.nz