All-new Chinese carmaker GWM Ora has spearheaded the UK launch of its Funky Cat EV with a vehicle handover to Gridserve Car Leasing.

Gridserve Car Leasing has taken delivery of one of the first Ora Funky Cats in the UK

Revealed at Fully Charged Live in April 2022, the Funky Cat is the inaugural UK model from the brand. An offshoot of global automotive giant Great Wall Motor, GWM Ora intends to disrupt the electric vehicle market through “stand-out styling, exceptional EV range and driver-centric features” and the five-door compact Funky Cat brings a rival to models such as the Cupra Born, Hyundai Kona Electric, MG4, Renault Zoe and VW ID.3.

The launch has been kicked off with the First Edition, which has now started deliveries, priced at £31,995 and with a 48kWh battery offering a WLTP range of up to 193 miles.

Gridserve is one of the first businesses to receive a Funky Cat, which has headed to its Electric Forecourt EV experience centre in Braintree.

Delivered by Lookers Braintree – one of the first dealers signed up by the carmaker – the vehicle will be used for test drives, showcasing its abilities to customers. Gridserve Car Leasing is offering the car from £420.25 a month with three months’ free charging included on all leases

Toby Marshall, managing director at GWM Ora UK, said: “Gridserve will play a big part in helping us raise awareness this year by running an Ora Funky Cat from their amazing facility in Braintree, and later in Norwich, for customers to test drive. We’re really pleased with the strong level of interest in Ora Funky Cat so far and our focus for Q1 2023 is building and supporting our retailer network in-line with customer demand.”

Robert Buckland, sales and operations director for Gridserve Car Leasing, said: “We’re delighted to take delivery of our brand-new Ora Funky Cat. We look forward to offering customers the chance to test-drive this exciting new EV, alongside a host of the latest brands, throughout 2023 and beyond. We continue to strengthen our Test, Lease, Charge offering with the most sought-after electric vehicles on the market.”

The Ora Funky Cat First Edition comes with features including adaptive & lane centring cruise control, 360-degree cameras, voice assistant, 18-inch alloy wheels, wireless phone charging and electric front seats.

It’s backed by a five-year vehicle, unlimited mileage warranty with 8-year/100,000-mile cover on the battery. GWM Ora says service intervals are in-line with best-in-class competitors, scheduled every 2 years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Funky Cat also scored a five-star rating in Euro NCAP tests and was named the best-in-class winner for the Small Family Car Category for 2022.