Buyers hoping to get their hands on the long-awaited GMW Ora Funky Cat have been told that the first batch of UK-specification cars is finally on its way from Shanghai. The news comes as a new company, IM NEV has been appointed as the official distributor of the car in the UK. With the recent removal of the Government’s Plug-in car grant, the First Edition models will now arrive with a £31,995 price tag.  

A new subsidiary of Midlands-based car importer International Motors, IM NEV, has been set up to mastermind the sales and support network for the much-delayed Funky Cat and will be the company responsible for building GWM Ora retail operations in the UK.

The firm’s parent company, International Motors, currently acts as UK distribution agents for Subaru and Isuzu and now operates in nine countries around the world. IM NEV’s appointment comes almost a year since the Ora Funky Cat (then badged simply Ora Cat) was first shown in Europe. Despite the brand’s own predictions that the car would be on sale at the end of 2021, the project has been hit by several delays. And while many expected the Cat to cost under £25,000, June’s announcement of a £30,495 price tag for the first models (along with a name change to Funky Cat) came as a shock to the 8,000 potential buyers who had registered an interest in the car with the Chinese brand. 

Although IM NEV has confirmed that the first batch of UK spec cars are now loaded and on their way from Shanghai, the news comes in the wake of Chinese rival MG's announcement that its first batch of MG4 models has already landed in the UK ahead of a September launch. Despite being a bigger car and having a larger battery than the Funky Cat, the MG4 comes with a £25,995 price tag - undercutting its rival by £6,000.

IM NEV is expected to announce its first retail partner for the GWM ORA brand in the coming weeks, with plans to achieve national coverage by the end of 2022. While there will be a big focus on physical retailers, the Funky Cat will also be available to buy through an online sales platform which also allows for vehicles to be delivered to a customer’s home or work address. According to IM NEV, customer deliveries are planned to take place by the end of the year.

IM NEV has confirmed that it will introduce a broader Funky Cat range with additional trim levels, plus a larger battery variant in 2023. The brand has also hinted that other Ora models could potentially be introduced to the UK market in the future. 

The first batch of Ora Funky Cat models are now built and finally on their way to the UK