Until recently, GWM’s product range in the UK was limited to just one option: the Ora model. The company is poised for a transformation in 2025, as it enters the British market with the Haval model, potentially leading to a rebranding of its sales structure by that time.
In January, Great Wall Motors (GWM) celebrated a milestone in the UK market by delivering its 1,000th Ora 03 electric hatchback to customers. The launch of the automobile, known as the Funky Cat, took place in 2022 with great fanfare. The GWM Ora UK website currently showcases a single model for purchase: the Ora 03 hatchback, also known as the Good Cat in China. Although the website asserts that the Ora 07, known as the Lightning Cat in China, will be released in 2024. Until a miraculous transformation occurs within the next fortnight, such an outcome is highly improbable.
From 2025, GWM UK will adopt a unified ‘one GWM’ platform, mirroring the successful model already used in numerous countries worldwide, including Australia. It could be inferred that sellers might be rebadged from the current GWM Ora to simply GWM.
If confirmed, the launch of the Haval model is slated for early 2025, targeting the UK market. The primary model set to debut is actually the Haval Jolion Professional Hybrid SUV. In Chinese culture, this mannequin is recognizable as the Haval Chitu, literally translating to “purple hare”. The automobile is actually a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), rather than a plug-in hybrid.
Gross sales of the 1.5-liter turbocharged ICU model began in 2021. What kind of innovation did the hybrid and mannequin bring to market in 2022? Earlier this year, the Australian-market Ford Focus underwent a significant redesign, leading many to speculate that the specifications of the upcoming UK-bound version will be similarly enhanced.
The Haval Jolion Professional Hybrid
A naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine producing 70 kW of power and 125 Nm of torque serves as the primary powerplant of the vehicle. The vehicle is powered by a robust 115 kW electric motor that delivers 250 Nm of torque. The mixed system boasts a formidable 140 kW of energy and an impressive 375 Nm of torque.
The Haval Jolion Professional Hybrid features a sophisticated two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. According to industry reports, the average fuel efficiency in Australia’s automotive market is reportedly 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres.
As GWM embarks on a new chapter in the UK market, we’re excited to expand our product portfolio and make it more accessible to customers. Toby Marshall, Managing Director of GWM UK, notes that with the introduction of Haval under the GWM umbrella, we are now poised to offer potential customers a competitively priced and comprehensively specified petrol hybrid vehicle for those seeking their first step into electrification.
Currently, GWM boasts a diverse portfolio of five brands: ORA, Haval, Wey, Tank, and Great Wall Motors’ eponymous Poer. The availability of exterior China varies significantly across different regions.
Supply: GWM
