2026 GWM ORA 5 electric SUV arrives in NZ as brand targets EV growth

The GWM ORA 5 has officially landed in New Zealand, with the first shipments of the new electric SUV arriving ahead of customer deliveries and dealer test drives.

GWM says vehicles will begin appearing in showrooms across the country within days, allowing prospective buyers to get behind the wheel of the brand's newest battery-electric model.

First revealed in April, the ORA 5 replaces the smaller ORA hatchback as the brand's mainstream electric offering and is positioned as one of the most affordable electric SUVs on sale in New Zealand. Pricing starts at $36,990 plus on-road costs for the Lux, rising to $39,990 plus on-road costs for the Ultra.

According to GWM, strong interest has been generated since pricing was announced, with the company expecting the new model to become a key volume seller as it expands its electrified vehicle lineup.

"It's no secret that we've been keen to add a fully electrified SUV to the range for some time and the ORA 5 SUV is the perfect model to kick start GWM's EV ambitions," said GWM ANZ chief operating officer John Kett.

"The philosophy at GWM is quite simple – to give more New Zealanders access to smarter, safer and better-equipped vehicles at a price they can afford, and the ORA 5 certainly meets that criteria."

The ORA 5 is significantly larger than the outgoing ORA hatch, measuring 4471mm long, 1833mm wide, and 1641mm tall, riding on a 2720mm wheelbase. Ground clearance is rated at 175mm, while boot space measures 362 litres.

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 150kW of power and 260Nm of torque, paired with a 58.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. GWM claims a driving range of up to 430km on the WLTP cycle.

The ORA 5 also supports DC fast charging at up to 120kW, with the company claiming a 30-80 per cent recharge can be completed in around 20 minutes under ideal conditions. Vehicle-to-load functionality is included, allowing owners to power external devices using up to 6kW of output.

While it retains some of the retro-inspired styling cues seen on previous ORA models, the ORA 5 adopts a more conventional SUV shape.

Exterior highlights include LED headlights, a closed-off front grille, new alloy wheel designs, and a full-width rear light bar.

Inside, the electric SUV features GWM's latest Coffee OS infotainment system, centred around a 14.6-inch touchscreen with voice control, wireless smartphone connectivity, over-the-air software updates, and a minimalist cabin layout.

The ORA 5 enters a growing segment of affordable Chinese electric SUVs, competing against rivals like the BYD Atto 2, MG S5 EV, and Dongfeng Vigo.

The arrival of the ORA 5 marks the beginning of a broader electric vehicle rollout for GWM in New Zealand, with additional ORA-branded EVs expected to follow over the next two years.

According to the company, GWM currently ranks among New Zealand's strongest-performing brands in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid segments and sees the ORA 5 as an opportunity to build a larger presence in the battery-electric market.

"The ORA 5 SUV's class-leading technology and segment-leading pricing is a statement of GWM's intent to drive to a top-five position in the EV segment across the ANZ region," Mr Kett said.

With pricing undercutting many established rivals and the first vehicles now arriving in dealerships, the ORA 5 could become one of the most significant new entrants in New Zealand's increasingly competitive electric SUV market.