Tank and ORA confirmed for Australia in 2022

It’s official: 4x4 specialist Tank and affordable electric car brand ORA are both launching in Australia in 2022.

Parent Great Wall Motor (GWM), one of China’s largest auto manufacturers, has confirmed the plan via a document on its global website that also lauds its 2021 sales performance in Australia and New Zealand.

The announcement has since been confirmed locally by Haval/GWM Australia marketing chief Steve Maciver, who told carsales: “Yes, Tank and ORA will be coming to Australia in 2022 and we are currently working with the factory on details of line-up and specifications.

“We won’t have any more to say until mid-January at the earliest,” he said.

While specific models were not detailed, GWM confirmed in its statement both “fuel” and hybrid versions of the ladder-frame Tank line-up would be launched.

That suggests the new Toyota LandCruiser-sized Tank 500 and/or 700 should join the mid-sized Tank 300 in the local line-up.

The Toyota Prado-sized Tank 400 is also likely to be on the list.

The Tank range is currently completed by the luxury 800 model, also newly released in 2021.

GWM also did not detail which ORA models would be coming to Australia, but a photo of the Cat compact hatch was contained within the document.

A hybrid Haval Jolion is now also confirmed to arrive in 2022, alongside the already confirmed Haval H6 hybrid.

Sadly for ute buyers, the one widely anticipated model not confirmed was the Ford F-150-rivalling GWM X Cannon.

The arrival of the Tank brand had been widely anticipated following mid-year media tests of the Tank 300 and multiple local trademark filings in November.

“The domestically popular “Tank series” will be officially launched in Australia next year,” the GWM document confirmed.

“In order to bring diversified choices to consumers, the fuel version and hybrid version of the Tank series will be launched at the same time.

“Tank hybrid series have both strong power and fuel economy, truly achieving a well balance of the two advantages, and will be the only off-road model equipped with hybrid power system in the Australian market.”

The standard 260kW/500Nm Tank 500 uses a mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6, while the 180kW/380Nm Tank 500 Hybrid uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

Power is sent to all four wheels though a nine-speed automatic transmission that houses an electric motor.

The ORA EV brand launched internationally at last September’s Munich IAA and will go on sale in right-hand drive markets, including Australia and UK, in 2022.

Local GWM/Haval Australia management has suggested ORA Cat could sell at or under $40,000, making it on current pricing the cheapest new EV in the market, although that depends on the promised arrival of other entry-level models like the BYD EA1.

“In 2022, the first batch of electric models will be launched in Australia, including the pure-electric brand ORA, the hybrid third-gen Haval H6 and Haval Jolion,” the GWM document stated.

“Among them, the hybrid third-gen Haval H6 has gained a high degree of attention before its launching. At present, it has obtained more than 1000 intent orders, and many vehicle owners have expressed their expectation for hybrid models.”

As shown in Munich, the ORA Cat powers its front wheels via a single electric motor making 105kW and 210Nm, accelerates from 0-50km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 150km/h.

It has a claimed NEDC range of 400km with a 47.8kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack or 45.99kWh ternary lithium pack. A 500km range is claimed with a 59.1kWh ternary lithium battery pack.

Only in existence since 2018, ORA sells the Cat as the Good Cat in China alongside the Black Cat and White Cat city cars and IQ SUV.

ORA has also revealed the larger Lightning Cat, the Cherry Cat SUV and an obvious tribute to the Volkswagen Beetle, albeit with five doors, called the ORA Punk Cat and ORA Ballet Cat.

Led by the new dual-cab GWM Ute, GWM has sold 20,539 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand from January to November 2021, making it the company’s largest overseas market. Sales were up 253 per cent year-on-year.

According to the document, this is just the beginning for GWM in Australia.

“Next, GWM will deepen the further development of the future intelligent and new energy market in Australia, take the initiative to capture consumers’ hearts and minds, and make great strides towards the first echelon in the ‘Smart & Hybrid’ field, continuously leading the market trend with its industry leading strengths,” the company said.