GWM ORA 03 Electrifies as Bargain of the Year
South Africa's youngest automotive brand has achieved the distinction of being the country's best value for money. Top Gear South Africa recently honoured the GWM ORA 03 with the "Bargain of the Year" award during its inaugural TopGear South Africa Awards ceremony. This prestigious event, which took place at the luxurious Steyn City Helistop in Johannesburg, saw participation from prominent figures in the automotive industry. In total, 24 awards were presented to various vehicle brands and industry representatives.
Bianca van Staden, Head of Marketing for GWM South Africa and its all-electric sub-brand ORA, expressed her delight, saying, "Receiving the Bargain of the Year award was a pleasant surprise. It's a fantastic acknowledgement of the hard work put in by the GWM ORA team over the past year to introduce this all-electric brand at an incredibly competitive price."
The GWM ORA 03 debuted in South Africa in November of this year, immediately establishing itself as the most affordable electric vehicle in the country. It offers an attractive entry price and boasts an impressive range, nearly double that of its closest competitor.
Van Staden highlighted the ORA's unique qualities: "With ORA, GWM's engineers had a clean slate to work with. They redesigned the vehicle to offer an enticing purchase price and deliver an exceptional driving experience, possess the best range in its class, and come loaded with features."
This winning combination of impressive range, performance, and affordability caught the attention of the TopGear judges, who selected the ORA from thousands of other models and model ranges available in the South African market.
Avon Middleton, Publishing Partner of Top Gear South Africa, commented, "While the GWM ORA may not be the least expensive vehicle in South Africa, it is unquestionably the most affordable EV. Its introduction has significantly reshaped the EV market and made this new technology accessible to a broader range of South African drivers."
The ORA's acclaim extends beyond South Africa. In the United Kingdom, a discerning market, it earned the distinction of "Which? Car Best Buy" in the Medium-sized Car Category. Judges at these awards commended the ORA for its affordability and for introducing a range of safety and luxury features previously unseen in its market segment.
Further validating its safety credentials, the ORA received a five-star safety rating in its class from the European New Car Assessment Programme (ENCAP), known for its rigorous crash tests and strict battery-safety evaluations for electric vehicles.
Adding to its environmental accolades, the GWM ORA 03 secured Europe's Green NCAP Life Cycle Assessment Award. This award recognises the vehicle's minimal environmental impact throughout its design, manufacturing, helpful life, and eventual recycling stages. Among a select few, the ORA received a coveted five-star rating from GWM, affirming its eco-friendly design and responsible engineering.
Bianca van Staden expressed pride in these achievements: "Many of these awards typically go to well-established and more expensive electric vehicles. For the GWM ORA 03 to be recognised for its engineering excellence, environmentally conscious design, and value for money while being the most affordable electric vehicle on the market is an outstanding accomplishment."
The GWM ORA 03 is now available in South Africa, starting at R686,950. Four different models are available, beginning with the ORA 03 Super Luxury. All models come with a GMW connectiveCARE charging system for convenient at-home charging, a 7-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty, and an impressive 8-year/150,000 km warranty on high-voltage components. Regardless of price, all models include a comprehensive 7-year/105,000 km service plan and an unlimited kilometre/7-year roadside assistance plan.
