What South Africa can soon expect from GWM and Haval

With a new era dawning, the Chinese brands we are familiar with in South Africa have decided now is the right time to introduce this technology at a competitive price. 

Great Wall Motors (GWM) invited us to the recent Shanghai Auto Show to provide an in-the-metal preview of their intentions for the local market.

Ora

Firstly, Ora. The retro-styled urban mobility solution will be brought to South Africa by the middle of the year.

The EV will be available in 3 derivatives namely the 300, 400 and 400 GT. All endowed with the same powertrain, the numeric values signify range with the GT boasting some sporty bits and bobs on the exterior.

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Within the Ora, the line-up is also the Grand Cat which shares aesthetic similarities to the aforementioned hatch.

Unconfirmed but on the cards for our market, the sleek and silent model will add to the dwindling sedan lineup available locally. 

The final model in the Ora line-up is the visual love child of a Volkswagen Beetle and Chrysler PT Cruiser. Ballet as it is known serves as a retro throwback but won’t make its way to South Africa.

GWM

Moving closer to familiarity, Haval unveiled the hybrid Max with both two-and four-wheel drive offerings that boast a claimed fuel consumption of 5.1 L/100km. With it being a global product, it will eventually arrive on the local market albeit potentially with a different name.

The P-Series bakkie as we know it will also eventually morph into its own sub-brand focused specifically on bakkies.

Before that happens, South Africa will receive a Limited model which boasts solely visual upgrades. The drivetrain will remain unchanged.

By the end of the year, the P05 bakkie will also add more depth to the line-up as a larger derivative of the already sizeable P-Series. More details can be expected closer to its arrival date. 

Tank

Tank is the next sub-brand that will be ushered into our market for the first time. These will include the 300 and 500 to serve as plush all-terrain vehicles to take on the titans.

The former will arrive within three months with a hybrid petrol powertrain. Thereafter, other powertrains may become available to the local market.

By the end of the year, another addition to the lineup will arrive. Touted as a Toyota Land Cruiser challenger, the Tank 500 will serve as an unrivalled and plush flagship within the entire GWM stable, potentially wielding a twin-turbocharged petrol V6 under the bonnet for the South African market. 

This is the beginning of the new energy era for the GWM group, and a Chinese takeover of the South African market.

Article first appeared on carmag.co.za.

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