GWM Expands EV Range To Fight BYD and Tesla with Haval Jolion Max and Ora 5

GWM has confirmed two new electrified models for Australia as part of its rapid product expansion, with the upcoming Haval Jolion Max and GWM Ora SUV both set to arrive in 2026.

Speaking during a media Q&A at GWM Tech Day, GWM ANZ Chief Operating Officer John Kett said the company’s electrification strategy would see the Jolion range grow into both plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric (EV) variants under the Jolion Max badge.

“Jolion will also be an EV player and a PHEV player,” Kett said. “We’re going to introduce what’s called the Jolion Max, which will have two different fuels.”

Known internally as the A07 or Xiaolong in China, the Jolion Max will share its body and key dimensions with the Xiaolong PHEV but expand into a fully electric derivative for export markets such as Australia.

In China, the Xiaolong plug-in hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, delivering 185kW and 375Nm. The powertrain is offered with 9.4kWh or 19.27kWh batteries, providing up to 86 kilometres of pure electric range (WLTP) and a claimed fuel consumption of 5.3L/100km.

While GWM has not yet released official specifications for the Australian-bound Jolion Max EV, a prototype driven by CarSauce earlier this year in Shanghai hinted at an approximate 0–100km/h time of eight seconds and a range of around 400 kilometres.

The vehicle was still in early testing and has since been confirmed for production under the Jolion Max nameplate.

Kett also confirmed the arrival of a new small electric SUV from GWM’s Ora brand — a model known as the Ora 5 — which will mark the next phase of GWM’s electric rollout in Australia.

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“The small SUV Ora will come next year,” Kett said. “That’s the car we’ve been looking for for a while.”

Expected to compete directly with the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV, the Ora 5 SUV will sit above the Ora hatchback and adopt a new global naming convention that drops the cat-themed branding used overseas.

Chinese-market models measure 4471mm long, 1883mm wide and 1641mm high, on a 2720mm wheelbase — making it slightly larger than its key rivals.

It is powered by a 150kW front-mounted electric motor and uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with range and performance details for Australia yet to be confirmed.

The Ora 5 SUV features a minimalist interior design centred around a freestanding infotainment screen running GWM’s latest ‘Coffee’ software, a digital driver display, and a floating centre console with integrated storage.

Chinese versions also offer features such as wireless phone charging, multi-colour ambient lighting, and a panoramic glass roof.

Both the Haval Jolion Max and Ora 5 SUV form part of GWM’s strategy to establish a stronger presence in the electrified small SUV segment — a key growth area in Australia’s fast-evolving new car market.

Kett said the company’s approach focuses on customer choice across all powertrains, from internal combustion and hybrid to fully electric.

“We feel well covered across the segments we play in,” he said. “Our job now is to lift adoption rates across those segments, and if we do that, we’ll win.”

Pricing and final specifications for the Jolion Max and Ora 5 SUV will be announced closer to their respective launches, expected during 2026.