From GM to GWM: Ora EV switching to factory that used to build Holdens
The Rayong plant in Thailand – which previously produced the Holden Colorado and Trailblazer for our market, before General Motors sold to GWM in 2020 – currently manufactures not only the Ora electric hatch, but also the Haval H6 mid-size SUV and Tank 300 off-road SUV.
However, only the GWM Ora has been confirmed to be switching to Thai sourcing for the Australian market.
The company confirmed the move after the Ora appeared in Australian Government certification documents with a different Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
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A GWM Australia spokesperson confirmed the move is due to the Thai plant having production capacity available, and placing a greater focus on right-hand drive production.
The Thai market is right-hand drive like ours, though GWM also builds left-hand drive vehicles at the Rayong plant for Brazil.
GWM upgraded the plant and started production there in 2021, and it has capacity to produce 80,000 vehicles annually. The Ora entered production there in 2024.
It's not the only Chinese automaker to establish a production facility in Thailand, with BYD, MG and GAC also producing vehicles there. However, none of these auto manufacturers export Thai-built vehicles to our market.
Thai-built Oras are expected to arrive in Australia during the third quarter (July to September) of 2025, and the switch in production could correspond with updates for the small electric hatch – though GWM is staying mum for now on any potential pricing or specification changes.
That includes whether the lineup will be adjusted, though the approval documents list Lux, Ultra and GT variants.
Currently, the Ora lineup comprises Standard Range, Extended Range, and Extended Range GT variants. The first two feature the same level of specification, but differ in terms of battery size.
There was previously an Ultra variant, which built on the Extended Range with some additional niceties like heated, ventilated and massaging front seats and a panoramic sunroof, but it was axed for 2024.
Given Australia has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand, as it does with China, pricing won't necessarily be affected simply by the change in production sourcing.
However, the updated 2025 Ora revealed in China – pictured above – features some specification upgrades, including a larger new 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system replacing the old 10.25-inch unit.
The gear shifter has been moved to the steering column, and there's also a revised centre console.
The updated Ora also brings vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging capability, allowing electrical appliances to be powered by the vehicle's battery.
While the Ora is outsold by its key rivals, GWM Australia has said it's not looking to walk away from the model.
To the end of May, GWM has sold 271 Oras in Australia this year, against 2017 MG 4s and 776 BYD Dolphins.
While MG and BYD also offer a wide range of EVs in Australia and even more in China, GWM has a much smaller reserve of EVs to tap as the company has chosen to put a greater focus on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
All of GWM's EVs fall under the Ora brand, and just one of these – the Good Cat, varyingly known as the 03 and Funky Cat in other markets – is sold here as simply the GWM Ora.
Notably, the Ora brand has no SUVs despite significant and growing demand for this body style worldwide. Besides the Good Cat, GWM also has the retro Ballet Cat hatchback and the Lightning Cat sedan.
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Perhaps I'm overly critical because I'm used to Kia normally getting the ride/handling balance just about perfect. And to be fair, the EV5 is far from the worst in its class in this respect. Many rivals either are too firm or too soft – this leans towards the latter. At least the steering feels more dialled in than some of the overly light and often inaccurate electrically assisted racks found in its rivals, particularly some of the cheaper Chinese alternatives. Once I hit the freeways and better surfaced roads of the suburbs, I was much more impressed. The EV5 Earth is very comfortable and settled at highway speeds, and does a good job at keeping ambient noise at bay despite the lack of powertrain noise. It also offers plenty of performance in this spec. 230kW and 480Nm is plenty for this class of car, and the immediacy of response from the dual-motor electric drivetrain makes quick overtakes a cinch. It's certainly peppier than any Sportage I've driven. Being all-wheel drive, you also won't light up the front tyres and test the traction control's friendship when you accelerate too hard off the line, which you can very easily do in FWD versions of the EV5. That said, the dual-motor version could be more efficient. After 760km we saw energy consumption of 22.3kWh/100km on the trip computer, which was admittedly skewed by the fact Paul Maric spent a lot of time driving it on the freeway between Geelong and Lang Lang – I regularly saw 17-19kWh/100km during my daily commute in mixed conditions. Still, when something like a Model Y can easily consume 13-14kWh/100km, it's like comparing a RAV4 Hybrid to a turbocharged Mazda CX-5 in terms of relative efficiency. At least the assistance systems work pretty well, which is another area where a lot of Chinese rivals fall flat. Kia's semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist 2 uses navigation data in concert with the adaptive cruise and lane-keeping systems to take the load off freeway stints, keeping the vehicle at a set speed and distance from the vehicle ahead and in the centre of its lane. It works well and doesn't have the tendency to slam on the brakes when someone cuts you off. At times the lane centring assist (or Lane Follow Assist) can be a touch overbearing, but it's very easily switched off via a button on the steering wheel. Hyundai and Kia's audible speed warnings can get a little annoying too, though in the EV5 they're not as loud as they once were, and can be easily switched off by holding down the mute button. Annoyingly, the Earth grade misses out on surround cameras and Kia's funky Blind Spot View Monitor features, which are reserved for the flagship GT-Line – boo. To see how the Kia EV5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What do you get? The Earth sits between the entry-level Air and the flagship GT-Line grades in the EV5 lineup. 2025 Kia EV5 Air equipment highlights: 18-inch alloy wheels 225/60 R18 tyres Tyre mobility kit Tyre pressure monitoring LED headlights – reflector type Automatic high-beam LED daytime running lights LED tail-lights Matte plastic roof racks Satin Silver window surrounds Acoustic windscreen Solar glass – windscreen, front door Solar glass – rear windows, tailgate Auto up/down windows – front Cloth, artificial leather trim 8-way power driver's seat incl. 4-way lumbar 4-way manual front passenger seat 3-cell massage function – driver 2nd row centre armrest Shift by Wire – column type Paddle shifters – brake regen control 2 x USB-C charge ports – front 2 x USB-C charge ports – rear LED interior lighting Integrated Panoramic Display Kia Connect Over the air (OTA) updates Satellite navigation incl. 10 years traffic info, updates Wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless Android Auto 6-speaker sound system AM/FM/DAB radio Dual-zone climate control Heated front seats 2nd row air vents – door pillar-mounted i-Pedal one-pedal driving function V2L interior socket EV5 Earth adds: 19-inch alloys 235/55 tyres Gloss black exterior accents Gloss black roof racks Gloss black window surrounds Powered child-proof rear door locks Artificial leather trim – Smoky Black or Nougat Beige Smart power tailgate Privacy glass – rear windows, tailgate V2L exterior socket EV5 GT-Line adds: Active Sound Design 20-inch alloy wheels 255/45 tyres Gloss black exterior mirrors Auto flush door-handles LED dynamic indicators Laminated glass – driver window GT-Line two-tone leatherette upholstery 4-way power front passenger seat incl. 4-way lumbar Premium Relaxation Seat – driver Driver seat memory function 6-cell massage function – driver 3-cell massage function – passenger Sports steering wheel Fingerprint authentication module Alloy sports pedals Auto up/down windows – front, rear Rear seatback table – passenger side Ambient mood lighting – 64 colours Wireless phone charger Heated, cooled rear sliding storage tray 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system Augmented reality head-up display Heated second row outer seats Ventilated front seats To see how the Kia EV5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Is the Kia EV5 safe? The Kia EV5 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on local testing conducted against 2024 criteria. This rating covers all variants sold in Australia and New Zealand. Standard safety kit includes: 7 airbags incl. front-centre Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot assist Driver attention monitoring Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) Lane Following Assist (lane centring) Lane-keep assist Lead Vehicle Departure Alert Rear cross-traffic assist Rear occupant alert Reversing camera incl. dynamic guidelines Safe exit warning EV5 GT-Line adds: Blind Spot View Monitor Parking Collision Avoidance Assist – reverse, side, forward Surround cameras incl. 3D mode To see how the Kia EV5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How much does the Kia EV5 cost to run? The EV5 is covered by the same seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the wider Kia range. However, the high-voltage EV battery and related componentry is warranted for 150,000km. To see how the Kia EV5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool CarExpert's Take on the Kia EV5 The EV5 has quickly become a popular choice in the Australian EV space, and it's pretty easy to see why. Distinctive looks, a spacious interior, a well-known badge on the nose and a good suite of on-board tech make the EV5 a familiar experience for any existing Hyundai or Kia owner looking to move to zero tailpipe emissions transport. While the driving experience could be better, especially given the Korean brand's recent form, it's far from off the pace in this segment and there are many some strong points like effortless power, decent range and a well-tuned driver assistance suite. The Earth specification should, in theory, be the pick of the EV5 bunch, but Kia has made it quite expensive while also withholding key features like surround cameras, Blind Spot View Monitor, a wireless phone charger and the ventilated front seats from the flagship GT-Line – which is a whole $7000 pricier. At nearly $70,000 on the road, I think the Earth variant should be cheaper and some of those features should be standard, or at least available as an option pack. I'm also of the mindset that most EVs, and especially electric SUVs, don't need high-output dual-motor drivetrains. Yes, you get the peace of mind that AWD traction offers in wet conditions, but for the most part you're just sapping range and adding weight. I think the Earth spec with a single-motor drivetrain for around $65,000 drive-away would make a lot of sense for many more buyers. While the EV5 Earth is good for what it is, I'd suggest the best EV5 is the cheapest one. But if money is no object and you want everything this solid nameplate has to offer, the GT-Line range-topper is where it's at. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Kia EV5. Click here to get a great deal. Pros Practical, spacious cabin Familiar feel to layout and tech Achievable claimed driving range Cons Wobbly urban ride Annoying equipment omissions Energy efficiency could be better Top Line Specs Power: 230kW Fuel Type: Electric Economy: 0.0L/100km CO2 Emissions: 0g/km
