Chinese brand GWM Ora sets out its short term aims for the UK

The dealer network for the UK's newest car brand entrant, GWM Ora, is hoped to reach 16 locations by the end of this year as sales of its electric vehicles (EVs) begin to gain ground.

GWM Ora is part of China’s Great Wall Group, which started in 1984 and now employs some 60,000 people across its numerous vehicle manufacturers. The Ora brand is Great Wall’s dedicated electric car brand, and it recently set up a research and development branch in Germany, a sign of how seriously it wants to become established in Europe.

It is now distributed here by IM Group, which also supplies the UK with Subaru and Isuzu new cars and Mitsubishi parts. IM Group executive Toby Marshall was recently promoted to managing director of GWM Ora UK from his prior sales and marketing director role and is overseeing the start of sales. First is the GWM Ora Funky Cat, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) priced from £31,995, and IM Group hopes sales will reach 5,000 units by the end of 2023.