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South Africa’s newest vehicle brand has quickly established itself as the country’s top choice for value.

At the inaugural TopGear South Africa Awards, the GWM ORA 03 was honored as the Bargain of the Year by Top Gear South Africa. The event, held last week at the luxurious Steyn City Helistop in Johannesburg, saw representatives from across the automotive industry in attendance, with 24 awards presented to various vehicle brands and industry representatives.

“It was a pleasant surprise to receive the Bargain of the Year award,” says Bianca van Staden, Head of Marketing for GWM South Africa and its all-electric sub-brand, ORA. “This recognition is fantastic for the GWM ORA team, who have worked tirelessly over the past year to introduce this all-electric brand at the best possible price.”

The GWM ORA 03, introduced to South Africa in November of this year, immediately claimed the title of South Africa’s most affordable electric vehicle. Not only does it offer the best entry price, but it also boasts a range nearly double that of its closest competitor.

“With ORA, the engineers at GWM had a completely blank slate. They redesigned the vehicle to offer not only the best possible purchase price but also to deliver a great driving experience, the best range in its class, and a host of features,” explains van Staden.

This winning combination of impressive range, performance, and affordability caught the attention of the TopGear judges who selected the ORA from among thousands of other models and ranges on the South African market.

“While the GWM ORA may not be the most affordable vehicle in South Africa, it is certainly the most affordable EV. Its introduction has significantly shifted the market for EVs, making this new technology accessible to many more South African motorists,” adds Avon Middleton, Publishing Partner of Top Gear South Africa.

The acclaim received by Middleton and his team echoes that of esteemed publications worldwide.

In the United Kingdom, a notoriously demanding market, the ORA was named the Which? Car Best Buy in the Medium-sized Car Category. Judges praised the ORA for not only being the most affordable EV on the market but also for introducing a range of safety and luxury features previously unseen in this segment.

Continuing in Europe, the ORA was awarded the title of safest five-star rated car in its class by the European New Car Assessment Programme. This accolade is particularly significant as ENCAP is widely regarded as the strictest crash test award of its kind globally, applying rigorous battery safety tests to electric vehicles.

A few months later, the GWM ORA 03 won the Green NCAP Life Cycle Assessment Award in Europe. This award evaluates the environmental impact of a vehicle from its design and manufacturing stage through its useful life cycle and eventual recycling. Out of the four vehicles awarded a five-star rating, the GWM ORA 03 was certified for its low environmental impact and responsible engineering, considering its carbon footprint and environmental impact at every stage of its life cycle.

Considering a rate of around R3.50 per kWh for AC home charging, it will cost an owner approximately R170 to R250 to fully charge their GWM ORA 03. Using DC fast charging at a rate of R5.00 to R5.80 per kWh, the cost for a full charge will be around R250 to R300.

“Many of these awards are typically given to more established and far more expensive electric vehicles. For the GWM ORA 03 to win recognition for its engineering, environmentally friendly design, and value for money, while being the most affordable electric vehicle on the market, is an achievement of which we are extremely proud,” says van Staden.

The GWM ORA 03 is available in South Africa starting from R686,950. There are four models available, starting with the ORA 03 Super Luxury. All models come with a GMW connectiveCARE charging system for easy at-home charging, a 7-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty, and an even more impressive 8-year/150,000 km warranty on high-voltage parts. Additionally, all models, regardless of price, include a full 7-year/105,000 km service plan and an unlimited kilometer/7-year roadside assistance plan.

South Africa’s most budget-friendly electric car, the GWM ORA 03, stands as a top contender for the title of Car of the Year. Selected as a finalist in the 2024 South African Car of the Year awards, hosted and adjudicated by the Guild of Mobility Journalists, the GWM ORA 03 competes in the Family category, alongside the BMW X1, among 18 other finalists.

Bianca van Staden, Head of Marketing, Brand, and Public Relations at GWM South Africa, expresses her pride in the ORA 03’s recognition: “We are very proud of the fact that the GWM ORA 03 was picked as a finalist in the SA Car of the Year awards and that it competes in a ‘traditional’ category for family vehicles.”

Van Staden highlights that although the ORA 03 made headlines as South Africa’s most affordable electric vehicle, it has been predominantly compared to traditional city and family vehicles rather than solely electric vehicles.

Supporting this statement, Van Staden mentions several awards the GWM ORA 03 has won, including being named Which? Magazine’s Best Buy in the medium-sized car category and winning the Best Urban Car for 2023 by Driving Electric. Additionally, it received top marks in the environmentally friendly life-cycle assessment test by the European Green New Car Assessment Programme (Green NCAP) and was recognized as the safest car in its class by Euro NCAP and Australasian NCAP.

In South Africa, the GWM ORA 03 is also contending for the top spot in the category of affordable electric vehicles in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards. It has already been awarded Bargain of the Year in the Top Gear South Africa Awards in December 2023.

Van Staden concludes, “While the GWM ORA 03 is a pioneer in the market for affordable, innovative, and stylish electric vehicles, it is also a sound choice for most traditional vehicle buyers in its price range. That makes the ORA the first true crossover vehicle between traditional motoring and new electric vehicles.”

To summarize the features of the GWM ORA 03: priced at less than R700,000 for the entry-level model, it is the most affordable electric vehicle in South Africa. Launched in late 2023, it won the hearts of the SAGMJ judges in less than four months.

As a family car, the GWM ORA 03 delivers on all fronts. Weighing only 1,555 kg, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of just under 160 km/h. Powered by a 48 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, the standard-range 300 Super Luxury GWM ORA 03 boasts an average electric consumption figure of 16.7 kWh/100 km, offering a range of up to 310 km (WLTP cycle), making it the best range-per-rand of any EV in South Africa.

Inside, the GWM ORA 03 features two 10.25-inch touchscreens (instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system) integrated into the front panel, with every function just a fingertip away. Additionally, it offers a rotary-style gear selector and up to 228 liters of luggage space. To further facilitate EV ownership, 20 dedicated ORA dealers nationwide offer GWM 7kW home-charging wall box solutions.

“With its inclusion in both the SAGMJ Car of the Year and Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, we believe that the GWM ORA 03 will capture the hearts of fans of cutting-edge technology and traditional motoring alike,” says Van Staden.

“We believe that as a family vehicle, the GWM ORA 03 is without comparison, and we are confident that it will impress the judges of both competitions and motorists across South Africa,” she concludes.