Cars and Cats? Learn How China’s ORA Motors is Combining the Two
Chinese EV brand ORA Motors naming and designing its cars after cats may seem odd in most of the world, but in China it makes sense. According to the 2020 Chinese Pet Industry White Paper, China’s pet cat population rose by a staggering 10.2% last year to almost 49 million. Chinese millennials and Gen Z are the driving force behind this booming market. In 2019, consumers under age 30 accounted for 45.2% of total pet owners in China, while those between the ages of 30-40 made up 29.5% of the pet-owning population. And for those who don’t own cats, there are thousands of cat cafes, virtual cats, and cat influencer accounts to follow.
ORA Motors was created under the Chinese automotive manufacturer Great Wall Motors in 2018. Great Wall Motors is currently the largest automotive manufacturer for gasoline powered off-road and utility vehicles. However, with the Chinese government’s push towards electrification of vehicles, the company created the ORA brand to tap into the compact electric car market.
According to Great Wall Motors, ORA stands for ‘open, reliable and alternative’. What is unique about the brand is that ORA did not just create another cheap and boring compact car brand. Instead it went after millennials and Gen Z consumers who tend to seek products that demonstrate their individuality by creating cars inspired by cats. Currently its three most popular models are the ORA Black Cat R1, ORA White Cat R2 and the ORA Haomao R3 (Haomao means good cat in Chinese). Each one has a unique “cat” element to it.
ORA Motors Black Cat R1
The R1 made its debut in April 2019 at the Shanghai Motor Show. It attracted many young white collar city dwellers with its adorable looking front facia, and practical 5 door configuration.
The R1 uses a 33 Kwh lithium-ion battery to propel the vehicle up to 63.4 mph (102 km/h) and has a range up to 187 mi (301 km). The R1 is front wheel drive, and its front mounted permanent magnet motor can produce 48 hp and 92.1 ft-lbs. of torque. The ORA R1 is priced between $8,680 to $11,293 US dollars and ORA Motors has been selling it in India, Thailand, and Latin America as well.
ORA Motors White Cat R2
The R2 was officially introduced to the public at the end of June 2020. The front facia reminds me of the grumpy face that Garfield makes. It produces 63 HP from Its 33kwh ternary lithium battery produced by CATL. The battery can propel the vehicle for 223 miles (360km). The R2 has a Curb weight of 2200 lbs (around 1010kg). With a longer wheelbase and taller sitting position, the R2 is the perfect city car for hauling cargo and passengers.
ORA Haomao R3
This modern retro looking hatchback is the company’s latest model on sale. At a certain angle it resembles the classic Porsche 356 coupe. This electrified “good cat” has 143 horsepower and a maximum torque of 155 pound-feet (210 Nm). With a whopping 323 pounds curb weight, the Good Cat tops out at 93 miles per hour (150 kilometers per hour). Buyers can choose between 47.8 kWh and 59.1 kWh batteries; the former can do 249 miles (401 km) and the later can do 311 (501 km).
Concept Cars and Modifications
ORA Motors is continuously pushing out interesting concept vehicles to keep the public interested in the brand. At the 2020 Beijing International Auto Show it revealed the Futurist concept vehicle. The car wowed the crowd with its vintage look.
Apart from that, the company is also active in the aftermarket industry. China has been gradually loosening up its iron grip on vehicle modifications. Because of this, we see more aftermarket products emerging for brands like ORA.
ORA Black Cat R1 off-road customization ORA Haomao R3 track edition
