Ora is the electric car sub-brand of Great Wall Motor, usually shortened to GWM, one of China’s largest and oldest privately owned car manufacturers. GWM itself traces back to 1976 as a small vehicle repair operation in Baoding, in China’s Hebei province, and grew over the following decades into a company known internationally for pickup trucks and SUVs under names like Haval and Tank. Ora was launched in 2018 specifically to house GWM’s electric passenger cars, separate from those more traditional brands.
GWM Ora
Founded: 2018 (parent company GWM founded 1976) HQ: Baoding, Hebei, China Parent: Great Wall Motor Company Official website ↗
Last updated: August 1, 2026
GWM Ora Overview
Ora arrived in the UK in 2022 with its first and, so far, only model here, originally sold under the memorable name Ora Funky Cat before being renamed Ora 03 to fall in line with GWM’s wider naming strategy. It was a small electric hatchback aimed at value focused buyers, positioned against cars like the Volkswagen ID.3 and the MG4. GWM also signed a joint venture agreement with BMW around electric vehicle development and production in China, a detail that occasionally surprises people given how different the two brands otherwise are.
The Ora 03’s time on the UK market turned out to be relatively short. After around four years on sale, GWM withdrew it from the UK in April 2026, citing a broader European strategy reset, with new electric and electrified models planned to arrive from mid-2026 onward. UK sales had remained limited throughout, with only 542 units registered in the car’s final full year, a modest number by the standards of some of the other new Chinese brands covered on this site.
Despite the Ora 03 no longer being available to order new, GWM has confirmed that servicing, repairs and parts support continue through its existing UK dealer network, so existing owners aren’t left without support. This page is kept live as a reference for anyone researching the car secondhand, or curious about where Ora’s UK story stands, rather than pretending the model is still on sale.
GWM has said it intends to bring further electric and electrified models to the UK from the middle of 2026 onward, potentially reviving Ora’s UK presence or replacing it with vehicles under GWM’s other brands. Until anything concrete is confirmed, this page will be updated to reflect whatever comes next.
