World’s cheapest electric car that made its public debut in China back in December 2018 is now on its way to India. Chinese auto major Great Wall Motors will be showcasing the Ora R1 at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020 as the company has now confirmed the two brands that it will be marking its entry with.

Through its official Twitter handle, the company confirmed that it will be present at the AutoExpo 2020 with its Haval and ORA brands. With the former, it is expected to bring three models of Haval SUVs to the expo. Read all about these SUVs here.

On the other hand, ORA is the new-energy vehicle arm of Great Wall Motors created in 2018. Short for Open, Reliable and Alternative, the brand is focused on producing in-city cars. Its accomplishments to date include the ORA R1, deemed as the world’s cheapest electric car since its launch.

ORA R1

Priced at $8680 (Rs 6.05 lakh) for the base variant, ORA R1 promises impressive numbers. There is a 35 kW motor and a battery that claims a range of 194 miles (312 kms) on a single charge. Within the city, this is enough range for a couple of days. That is also wherein the compact and catchy design of the electric car helps.



Launched as a dedicated vehicle for the Chinese market, it only makes sense for the company to find India as a potential market for the car. Congested traffic conditions in the cities call for a compact car for everyday commute. India is also at the cusp of its electric vehicle revolution. A timely entry for a product that promises worth for specific category of buyers will help the company make a niche for itself.

ORA R1

But that is not promised yet. For now, Great Wall Motors only aims to introduce the ORA R1 to the Indian industry, probably seeking reactions. A launch at the time of other electric cars in the entry-level segment might just be the plan. As for the production, reports indicate that Great Wall Motors is eyeing to secure a site in Talegaon, Maharashtra by the latter half of the year.

