GWM R1 is the Maruti Alto of the EV World, Debuts In India

by Mohit Bhardwaj | 11/02/2020
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Ora R1 is the cheapest EV on sale in the world. In simpler words, Ora R1 to GWM is what Maruti Alto is to India.

Great Wall Motors is a new name to India but it is one of the biggest car makers of China. Known for their prowess in making SUVs in all shapes and sizes, GWM also owns a brand that produces EVs. The Ora brand owned by the Chinese-giant GWM is famous for making affordable EVs. The affordability quotient of these EVs is so high that it makes them the manufacturer of world’s cheapest EV – Ora R1. On this note, Ora R1 can be referred to as the Maruti Alto of the EV world. Thus, it can be said that if GWM plans to start selling this affordable EV in India, it might draft the same success story for them as what the Alto did for Maruti. To understand the perspective of the Indian audience, Ora R1 was showcased at the ongoing Auto Expo 2020.

Also Read - Upcoming Kia MPV To Rival Maruti Ertiga.

 

Ora R1 is a small practical car that is designed around a funky theme. It sticks to old-school proportions in terms of its dimensions. It measures 3495mm in length, 1660mm in width and has a height of 1560mm. It has a styling that resembles Honda E with its round headlamps and coloured panel on the front that mimics the grille of an IC-engine car. On the inside as well, the R1 is designed with a youthful theme and offers pretty decent space for its size. The windows are big enough to let enough sunlight enter the cabin. However, the rear windows do not roll down as they are butterfly type windows as seen on the third-row of cars like Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo.

Also Read - Production version of New Tata Sierra Looks Dapper in this Rendering.

Cheapest EV in the world - GWM Ora R1, Maruti Alto of EVs

GWM Ora R1 is the cheapest EV in the world and will be avialable in India soon.

Ora R1 is designed with an under-floor battery pack coupled to a 35kW motor that gives it a range of 350 km against one full charge. The range is sufficient for someone planning to use the car in the city. To let the convenience woo you during your commute, Ora offers an advance touch-screen infotainment. The system gets artificial-intelligence-based assistance to the driver and wakes up with voice command of “Hello Ora”. Price for the cute, stylish, practical, and tech-laden Ora R1 starts at 59,800 Yuan ( Rs 6.10 lakhs), which is not much for such a package. Thus, it would be interesting to see this Chinese EV coming to India and take on the likes of upcoming Renault Kwid EV (K-ZE) and Maruti WagonR EV.

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