PETALING JAYA: The wait is finally over. Malaysia's most affordable electric car is launched today.
We are of course referring to the Ora Good Cat.
The fully imported model from China is available in two variants. The 400 Pro variant with a 47.7kWh lithium ion phosphate battery is priced at RM140,500 (on-the-road without insurance), while the 500 Ultra with a 63.1kWh ternary lithium battery is RM170,500. Range is 400km (NEDC) and 500km respectively.
Distributor Great Wall Motor (GWM) Malaysia also introduced an attractive 4-in-1 "Purr-fect package" where Good Cat buyers can enjoy a complimentary portable and home charger, a 5-year or up to 150,000 km warranty, an 8-year or up to 180,000 km battery warranty, and 5 times free service labour maintenance.
The 400 Pro and 500 Ultra feature a single electric motor in front that makes 105kW/143PS of power and 210Nm of torque. Both cars go from 0-100kph in 7.9s and top speed is 152kph. Three units of the 500 Ultra were on display at the launch.
As for charging times, GWM states DC fast charging (up to 60kW) from 30% to 80% at 32 mins for 400 Pro and 40 mins for 500 Ultra. It's 46 mins and 1 hour respectively if DC fast charging from 0 to 80%. With AC normal charging (up to 6.6kW), as at home, a full charge would take around 8 hours for the smaller battery and 10 hours for the bigger one.
GWM has been previewing the electric hatchback for months now, with booking starting earlier this month.
Last month, Great Wall Motor organised a media drive in the 500 Ultra variant.
Of the 100 plus bookings received so far, over 80% are for the 500 Ultra. The first batch of cars are expected to be delivered next month. Thailand had a headstart in selling the Good Cat and sales is purring along nicely. Some 5,400 of the Good Cat have been sold there in the past year and 4,200 units have been delivered to customers.
According to GWM, the Good Cat has been well received by Malaysians in the months leading up to the launch, adding that the public liked its overall design, performance and driving experience.
Designed around a "Futuristic" concept, the Good Cat is said to combine timeless essence with cutting-edge design, making it stand out in a sea of cars.
Available in two-tone and monotone colours, the retro-futuristic car comes with an intelligent LED headlamp system shaped like cat-eyes that promises high driving visibility.
It features sporty 18” alloy wheels and LED taillight strip.
The car is equipped with a 7-inch instrumentation display that comes with a user-friendly interface, paired with a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The electronic shifter comes in the form of a rotary gear shift located at the centre console. Other notable highlights are a fully electric panoramic sunroof and foldable leather seats that can accommodate up to 858 litres of storage space.
Both variants come with auto emergency braking and five driving modes namely Normal, Sport, Eco, Eco+ and Auto. They also have a "wisdom dodge system" that can detect and avoid large vehicles within their proximity.
The 500 Ultra adds an integrated intelligent parking system that assists in three modes of automatic parking.
This variant is equipped with a high definition 360-degree cameras as well as an electronic driver massage seat to reduce the stress of driving.
The Good Cat is supported by a 24-hour roadside assistance by its appointed panel insurance company and a spare parts warehouse located in Shah Alam.
The launch of the Good Cat is just the start under GWM's grand plans to introduce more models under its multi-brand portfolio.
It says it will roll out a range of vehicles including SUVs and pick-up trucks in the next few years. Word is the Ora Lightning (aka Grand Cat) fastback sedan will also be coming in due course.
In his presentation, Great Wall Motor Asean Region president Elliot Zhang said the company aims to be a leading automaker in Malaysia and targets to roll out 9 models in three years covering sedans, SUVs and pick-up trucks. GWM is targeting local assembly in 2023 and that includes the Good Cat further down the road in partnership with the Go Auto Group at its facility in Gurun, Kedah.
“The Malaysian public have always expressed their interest and excitement for EV vehicles, which was our main drive to cater towards their needs," said Zhang.
"Our local strategy and approach are to help as many Malaysians move from fuel-consumption vehicles to more energy-efficient vehicles. Thus, we have engineered this model (Good Cat) to serve and meet the expectations of our customers for everyday use."
Prospective customers can view and test-drive the Good Cat at GWM’s designated authorised dealers in the Klang Valley at Glenmarie and Puchong as well as in Penang.
For more information, visit GWM Malaysia website: www.gwm.com.my or contact GWM’s call centre at 1800-18-2882. Alternatively, send your enquiries to the customer service support team at support@gwm.com.my.
SPECIFICATIONS & HIGHLIGHTS
Zhang presenting the Good Cat at the launch today. Prices shown are selling prices with SST. On-the-road price is as indicated in third paragraph of text.
