The GWM electric vehicle, known for its Beetle-inspired design and features aimed at a female audience, will receive a redesign and a new chance to be marketed. After recording modest sales in China, the Ora Ballet Cat model will be updated with greater power and may change its name.
Launched in 2022, the Ora Ballet Cat was conceived as a car specifically intended for women. In addition to offering a selfie camera, it included features considered feminine, such as a driving mode that automatically adjusted the vehicle's distance ahead and a function that activated seat heating and air conditioning to mitigate discomfort during menstruation. These characteristics generated both interest and controversy due to allegations of sexism.
However, the market strategy did not achieve the expected success. In the Chinese market, between July 2022 and June 2026, the hatchback accumulated only 8,523 units sold. Despite this, GWM shows an intention to keep the project active.
The visual changes to the model are subtle, maintaining the headlights inserted into the wheel arches, chrome trims, and the charging door located on the front fenders, in addition to the 18-inch wheels. With a length of 4.40 meters, it remains in the compact car category.
The most significant modification lies in the electrical system. The motor will be raised from 171 hp to 204 hp, and the top speed will increase from 155 km/h to 180 km/h. The battery will remain lithium iron phosphate (LFP), supplied by Svolt, which belongs to the GWM group, although the manufacturer has not yet disclosed its capacity or range.
There is also the possibility that the vehicle will adopt the name Ora 6. GWM has been replacing cat-inspired names with a numerical nomenclature, a pattern already seen with the Ora 5, sold in Europe and recently introduced in Brazil, and which is expected to continue with the Ora 7. The homologation documents mention both designations, but the change has not yet been officially confirmed.
To date, the brand has not disclosed the prices of the renewed version nor confirmed the distribution of the model outside of China. When initially launched in 2022, the Ballet Cat cost 193,000 yuan (equivalent to approximately R$ 141,000 at the current exchange rate) in the Chinese market.
