The Ora R1 – the “black cat” – is a best seller in China, it is exported to Asia and could also come to Europe. A fully-fledged small car with a range of 310 kilometers is available for 8,900 euros.
Tesla has conquered the world with luxury vehicles. China’s automakers are going the opposite way: They want to attack the world markets with price breakers. At the top it is still difficult to compete with the quality and brand identity of western manufacturers. So you take the low-price segment and build vehicles that cost around 10,000 euros. That’s half what established manufacturers charge for their cheapest cars.
The Ora R1 can boast of being the cheapest electric car in the world: You can get it from 8900 euros, and the top version is available for just over 11,000 euros. Leaked papers say that the battery will be updated so that the range of the more expensive version will be increased to 410 kilometers in the future. At the same time, the engine’s performance is increased. The name Ora stands for a pure electric brand from Great Wall Motors, in China the R1 is called “Black Cat”.
A success in China
With its price-performance ratio, Ora R1 reached fourth place in the Chinese approval charts for e-cars in 2020. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV will be even more successful in 2021, but the Wuling is not a “real” car, but an ultra-light vehicle. Even the basic version of the R1 for around 8900 euros offers a range of 300 kilometers. This is possible with a battery of only 30.8 kWh because the cat doesn’t weigh a ton. The top speed is limited to 102 km / h. The car has four full seats. If they are occupied, however, only 200 liters of volume remain in the luggage compartment.
When traveling, it is better to drive in pairs, then the back seat can be folded down and there are 891 liters available. The Ora R1 comes with a guarantee of three years or 120,000 kilometers for the entire vehicle. Individual components have a guarantee of eight years or 150,000 kilometers. The basic version is only sparingly equipped, but it also shines with a 9-inch touchscreen and smartphone connectivity – a must in the Chinese market. Special editions like “Göttin” look downright noble.
If you like, you can even talk to the cat. In China, the car is connected to numerous cloud services and – thanks to AI – should take on the role of a personal assistant.
Lots of range and car for the money
Inside you can see a lot of hard plastic, but also chic ventilation nozzles in a turbine look. Even air conditioning is included. In recent years, Chinese automakers have made safety a priority. The entry-level model is therefore also equipped with airbags, ESP and ABS. To protect pedestrians, the front was made soft and shock-absorbing.
With a length of only 3495 mm, a width of 1660 mm and a height of 1560 mm, it is clear that this is a car for the urban area and not a touring car. For Asians, the space should be generous because of the height. Incidentally, the small platform from Great Wall Motors does not follow the skateboard model, which tends to lead to an SUV construction. In the R1, the technology “piles up” above the front and rear axles so that the footwell extends far down.
The R1 is about the size of a Smart Forfour. Here the prices for the electric version EQ Forfour start at EUR 22,6000. However, the range is only half as great as that of the Ora R1.
Export to Asia
“Our vision is to become a market leader in the electric vehicle segment in China,” said Ning Shuyong, general manager of Ora, at the launch. “Our cars are designed and built in accordance with international standards and we are definitely looking to international markets, including Europe.” So far, the R1 has only been exported to Asian markets, although it has retained its aggressive pricing model. If the Ora R1 were to exist in Germany, the state subsidies would reduce the price to around 5000 euros. With such a mini price, the model would certainly be successful in this country too.
Incidentally, at the “Auto Shanghai 2021” trade fair, Ora showed a new model, the Ora ES11. It surprised with a retro look and was strongly reminiscent of the VW Beetle – with an electric drive, of course.
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
