Peter Lyon
December 30, 2023
Malaysia already has the Ora Good Cat electric car from China—which is the operative phrase here—as the car is currently made in China and exported to Malaysia. However, in January 2024, GWM Thailand will take it to the next level.
They will introduce the Ora Good Cat, which will be produced at the carmaker’s Rayong facility in Thailand and domestically assembled. This is the result of GWM’s initial plans to locally assemble the car and source its battery packs locally as well.
With the exception of fewer colour options, not many modifications will be made to the Good Cat in Thailand from its existing spec. So as with the local Chinese variants, you can expect Pro, Ultra, and GT versions in Thailand too.
As we mentioned above, the Good Cat is entirely imported from China into Malaysia but GWM Malaysia also plans to locally assemble vehicles on home turf following in the footsteps of its neighbour.
In line with its goal to locally assemble, GWM Malaysia has contracted with EP Manufacturing (EPMB) to assemble and produce its models locally at the company’s Melaka manufacturing plant.
At present the Good Cat on sale includes the 400 Pro which costs RM140,500, and the 500 Ultra, boasting a price tag of RM170,500.
However, there is one critical thing that needs to be made clear here. The carmaker did not state whether or not its plan to locally assemble EVs will include the Ora Good Cat, the only model it presently offers for sale in Malaysia, although an educated guess would suggest so. That said, “Prominent models such as GWM SUV, pickup, and the cutting-edge electric vehicles are anticipated within this range,” according to a spokesperson.
OUR THOUGHTS
GWM Malaysia might not have confirmed whether the Good Cat will be assembled locally. But after seeing how the locally assembled Good Cat EVs are accepted in Thailand, then we expect GWM Malaysia will opt to assemble Good Cat cars at home as it will certainly have an impact on price, which is expected to fall making them more competitive.
