√GWM Ora electric car, Tank 4WDs delayed for Australia until 2023

Two new sub-brands from China’s Great Wall Motors – Ora for electric cars, and Tank for 4WD SUVs – were due in local showrooms some time this year, but have now been pushed back until next year.

Chinese car giant Great Wall Motors (GWM) has delayed the Australian launches of two new sub-brands – Ora for electric cars, and Tank for four-wheel-drives – to 2023, Drive understands.

GWM’s global division confirmed plans late last year to introduce Ora and Tank in Australia before the end of 2022 – however Drive understands various supply issues have pushed back the launch dates to 2023.

The company is yet to confirm which Ora and Tank vehicles will come to Australia.

However, the Good Cat city hatch is expected to lead the charge for Ora – while the Tank 300 and Tank 500 four-wheel-drives are expected to launch the Tank badge locally.

Australian details of the Ora Good Cat – similar in size to the Volkswagen Golf or Nissan Leaf – are yet to be confirmed, however overseas a choice of 48kWh and 63kWh battery packs are available, offering up to 420km of WLTP-range claimed driving range.

Brisk 40-minute 15 to 80 per cent DC charging is available overseas, along with an array of features from a 10.25-inch touchscreen, electric faux leather seats and 18-inch wheels, to a full suite of advanced safety aids.

Pricing is yet to be announced for Australia. Thai pricing suggests top-end models will be priced around $40,000 drive-away – making the Good Cat Australia’s cheapest electric car – though UK pricing suggests they could cost closer to $50,000.

Meanwhile, the Tank brand looks likely to launch in Australia with two models, Drive understands: the Jeep Wrangler-sized Tank 300, and Toyota Prado-sized Tank 500.

Measuring 4760mm long and 1930mm wide, the Tank 300 offers similar dimensions – and styling – to the US Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco four-doors, and in China offers a 167kW/387Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine (with a hybrid rumoured to be on the way).

At five metres long with an outboard spare wheel, the Tank 500 slots between a full-size LandCruiser and Prado in terms of engines – and offers a more commanding presence, with chrome-accented exterior styling, and a plush interior.

An in-house 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 with 265kW/500Nm is the only engine at launch in China – backed by a nine-speed auto, switchable four-wheel drive, multiple differential locks, and low range – though a 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre hybrid is offered in Thailand.

A global media bulletin from GWM last year confirmed “the [petrol] version and hybrid version of the Tank series will be launched” in Australia – though it’s unclear which of the two vehicles will offer a hybrid, given both already offer (or will eventually receive) such variants.

Pricing for Australia is yet to be confirmed, however a mid-range Tank 300 costs the equivalent of $AU50,000 in China – while a higher-end Tank 500 costs upwards of $AU80,000.

The Ora and Tank brands are just two highlights of a busy few years for Great Wall Motors in Australia, which is expected to launch a Jolion Hybrid small SUV and GWM Ute cab-chassis commercial vehicle towards the end of this year.

A RAV4-sized, rugged Haval ‘Big Dog’ (or Dargo) medium SUV is expected later on, to sit beside the current H6. In the last 18 months, GWM Haval has launched new H6 and Jolion SUVs, hybrid and coupe-inspired GT versions of the former, and a new ute.

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