Ora, the Chinese car brand that arrived in Ireland last year with the Funky Cat hatchback, is getting a major re-brand.
As a brand, Ora has always been a part of Great Wall Motors, or GWM, and the GWM badge will now move to the fore - what we called Ora will now be GWM, making cars called Ora.
New global strategy
It's part of a new global strategy for GWM, and it will also mean that one of the company's other brands - Wey - will be folded into the mix.
According to the company: "With its 'ONE GWM' strategy, GWM aims to optimise its European market entry approach and maximise its brand strength. The decision to market and distribute all cars under one brand will increase the visibility of the Chinese automaker and allow GWM's partners to apply a synergetic and efficient commercial approach from distribution down to dealer lever."
Naming by numbers
The new setup will see GWM's products start using new names based on a simpler numerical system. So, if you liked the quirkiness of the Funky Cat name, well, we've got some bad news for you - it's about to become the GWM Ora 03. It will be joined in GWM's showrooms shortly by a new four-door EV saloon, which in some markets has been called The Next Cat but which for Irish buyers will now officially be called the GWM Ora 07. According to GWM, this numerical naming system will make it easier for customers to work out where the car fits into the grander scheme of things. The company also says that in spite of the badge and branding changes, its cars will continue to share attributes such as: "high-end technology such as advanced driving assistants, exceptional design, outstanding interior material quality and NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness), long-lasting quality, and uncompromising safety with several 5-star ratings from Euro NCAP crash tests."
Thiemo Jahnke, European Brand and Marketing Director at GWM Europe explains: "Buying, owning, and driving a GWM car will be as straightforward, stress-free, and uncomplicated as never before. Together with our partners, we are working on a range of services, products, and offers across the entire customer journey. Starting in 2024, we aim to make our customers' experience with GWM simple and even more enjoyable. 'ONE GWM' will help us bring this promise to life, as it allows us to bundle our efforts for all our customers under one brand roof."
Wey models coming?
It also means that if you're not so keen on the cartoon-ish looks of the Ora 03 (neé Funky cat) and the Ora 07, some more conventional-looking cars are in the offing. While IM Group, the Ora and GWM importer for Ireland, has not yet confirmed details, the rolling in of Wey-branded models means that there's the potential for Irish buyers to get into what was the Wey Coffee 01, which is now the GWM Wey 05.
This is a mid-size EV crossover - think of it as an Audi Q5 rival - with a premium-looking interior and a plug-in hybrid powertrain that's good for a claimed 145km of electric driving. There's also a smaller Wey Coffee 02, which will now become the GWM Wey 03, which also comes with plug-in hybrid power and promises an EV range of up to 124km.