• CKD Ora EVs to go on sale in Thailand by 2024
• Exports to neighbouring ASEAN countries planned
• More than 10,000 bookings for Ora Good Cat in just 7 days

Great Wall Motor has confirmed that it will be commencing local assembly (CKD) of battery electric vehicle (BEV) Ora-brand models at its Rayong plant in Thailand, which will also serve as the company’s forward base for the Chinese brand’s assault into the Japan-dominated South East Asia.

Elliott Zhang, chairman of Great Wall Motors ASEAN and Thailand confirmed to our Thai colleagues at Autofun yesterday that Rayong will also as GWM’s regional production hub for the company’s Ora range of fully electric vehicles, and that the Thailand-built models will also be exported to neighbouring countries in South East Asia.

The plant, formerly owned by General Motors, is now being retooled to support the production of BEV models. Production of the ORA’s electric models will commence in the final quarter of 2023 and GWM expects to have the first batch of cars out in Thai showrooms by early 2024.

The company however, did not specify which Ora model will join the CKD line-up.

At the moment, GWM only sells one BEV model in Thailand, the Ora Good Cat, which has netted more than 10,000 bookings in just 7 days.

Bookings for the imported-from-China (CBU), 500 km (NEDC) range Ora Good Cat is now open in Thailand, with prices ranging from THB 989,000 (RM 126,600) for the 400 km range Tech variant, to THB 1,199,000 (RM 153,500) for the 500 km Ultra variant.

Contrary to popular opinion, Zhang doesn’t think selling EVs to be difficult to at all, especially in Thailand, where customers have shown strong interest to the Ora Good Cat, as evident by the over 10,000 bookings collected in one week.

“When choosing an EV, there are only two things to consider – its price versus a regular combustion engine model, and its ease of use. Therefore, we are looking at building the necessary supporting infrastructure, and working the government to create policies to support EV use. We believe that if the government has a policy to support the use of EVs, it will be a good thing,” said Zhang.

GWM’s G-Charge Supercharging station at Siam Square is now one of the largest DC fast chargers in Thailand, with a three 160 kW DC fast chargers, with two outlets each, thus allowing it to support simultaneous charging of 6 cars (power of course will have to divided, 80 kW per car, which is about the limit of regular EVs anyway).

Moving forward, GWM aims to build 55 more charging stations across Thailand within 2022.

EVs don’t break down the way regular combustion engine cars do, but they might run out of power. Of course you can’t carry power banks large enough for a car, so GWM’s plans for the near-term include the setting up of emergency mobile charging services.

Closer to home, Great Wall Motor is looking to re-launch its brand in Malaysia, also within this year.

The Ora Good Cat have been spotted in Malaysia, and was recently put on display at a trade show in KLCC.

Also read: Ora Good Cat on display at KLCC, 501 km range, circa RM 130k price possible

Follow us for more updates on Great Wall Motors’ Haval and Ora range of cars in Malaysia.

Also read: Confirmed: GWM to enter Malaysia with Haval H6 and Jolion, 2022 to see more Chinese brands