The Ora Funky Cat electrical supermini has been renamed the GWM Ora 03 as a part of a push by mother or father firm Great Wall Motor to bolster its model power within the European market.
The Funky Cat was launched in Europe in late 2022 as the primary automotive from GWM’s fashion-focused EV model Ora, which is being rolled out in European markets alongside hybrid-focused sibling model Wey, which sells the Coffee 01 and Coffee 02 SUVs.
As a part of this new ‘One GWM’ initiative, each manufacturers can be phased out and their vehicles offered underneath the identical ‘grasp model’, which GWM stated exhibits its “dedication to a extra cohesive and recognisable international presence, notably within the European market”.
While the Funky Cat turns into the GWM Ora 03 (GWM being the producer and Ora 03 the mannequin identify), the Wey Coffee 01 turns into the GWM Wey 05 and the Wey Coffee 02 the GWM Wey 03.
The Ora Lightning Cat saloon (also referred to as the Good Cat, Next Cat and Ballet Cat), confirmed for the UK in 2024, will now be referred to as the GWM Ora 07.
GMW stated this strategy “will improve the visibility of the Chinese auto maker and permit GWM’s companions to use a synergetic and environment friendly business strategy from distribution right down to supplier degree”.
The Ora rebranding will take impact within the UK from January, when the primary cargo of 03-badged vehicles will arrive – now with the selection of 45kWh and 59kWh batteries. Until then, the automotive will proceed to be known as the Funky Cat, and GWM has instructed Autocar that there can be no rapid adjustments to retailer branding and advertising and marketing actions.
The Wey 03 (beforehand the Coffee 02) can be launched in sure European markets in 2024, adopted by “not less than yet another mannequin” the next yr.
Wey and Ora stay separate manufacturers, GWM stated, however united by options frequent to all GWM fashions: “High-end know-how resembling superior driving assistants, distinctive design, excellent inside materials high quality and NVH, long-lasting high quality and uncompromising security, with a number of five-star rankings from Euro NCAP crash exams.”
