The GWM Ora 3 is a model that until recently was sold as the Ora Good Cat or Ora Funky Cat (depending on the market). At the end of November, Great Wall demoted its brands Ora (for BEVs) and Wey (for plug-in hybrids) to product names, after which the brand reverted to Great Wall, or GWM for short.
The Ora 03 model is also sold in Europe and manufactured in Thailand. This is not a risky investment decision, as the Great Wall car was launched in the Thai market (still with its old name) in October 2021. Since then, the Chinese have sold more than 10,000 units in the country, and demand is solid.
Regarding production in Thailand, potential risks in the supply chain are also limited, as batteries, for example, are substantially produced in-house. SVOLT, a battery manufacturer born from automaker Great Wall Motors, began producing battery packs in Thailand in December. According to the automaker, SVOLT will cover his pack’s needs with 60,000 batteries.
Great Wall itself considers the start of production historic: it will be the first time a Chinese OEM mass-produces electric vehicles outside of China, and it will be “a monument to both China’s auto industry and the global auto landscape.” ” states the press release.
Whether this statement is true probably depends on the exact definition of “Chinese OEM.” As reported, SAIC has been producing the MG4 in Thailand since November 2023. However, the car factory is operated by SAIC-CP, a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Charoen Pokphand Group. Therefore, the MG4 from this factory can be considered a car of the Thai company.
Thailand has recently attracted a lot of investment from the e-mobility sector, although mainly from Chinese companies. Neta will begin production in December, and GAC Aion is planning an EV factory in Japan. Chang’an also wants to build a large-scale EV factory there. The situation is similar in the battery industry. SVOLT opened the aforementioned battery assembly facility and Gotion factory in December. Eve Energy also announced that it will establish a battery factory in Thailand.
gwm-global.com