GWM: everything you need to know

By Craig Hale

Last updated: 23 September 2025

Full guide to GWM cars

Great Wall Motor, better known as GWM, was one of the first Chinese brands to hit the UK market with a new wave of electric cars, but it might not be so well-known as the likes of BYD and OMODA.

So in this guide, we’ll cover who makes GWM cars, where are GWM cars built and should you consider a GWM over a Tesla.

What we’ll cover in this guide to GWM 

• What is GWM? 

• Who makes and owns GWM?

• Where are GWM cars from and made? 

• Full GWM lineup 

• GWM prices and value 

• GWM range and charging 

• GWM reliability and ownership 

• GWM vs. Tesla: which is better? 

• GWM UK availability 

What is GWM?

GWM is one of China’s largest privately owned car manufacturers – rather than being fully or partly state-owned.

It launched back in 1984, but since then it’s grown from being a pickup and SUV manufacturer to one that has a car for everyone, including city-friendly hatchbacks and electric cars.

In the UK, we don’t have the full catalogue of GWM models – instead we have just two, but it’s worth noting that Haval also sells cars in the UK and Haval (launched in China in 2013) has also entered the UK market.

What does GWM stand for? 

GWM stands for Great Wall Motors, which is a reference to the Great Wall of China.

Who are GWM cars for?

GWM cars are built for budget-friendly buyers, but they’re hardly bargain-basement cars. You still get electrified powertrains and a long list of standard equipment.

Think of GWM cars as being exceptionally good value, rather than being ‘cheap’.

Who makes GWM cars?  

Great Wall Motor Company Ltd is responsible for making GWM cars. It’s one of China’s biggest independent car manufacturers.

Who owns GWM? 

Unlike many other Chinese car manufacturers, GWM is a wholly independent company with no state affiliations.

Wei Jianjun heads GWM, which is a publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

As of 2025, it’s valued at around £19.97 billion, so in fiscal terms, it’s about twice as big as Renault, but 10% the size of Toyota.

Where are GWM cars from?

GWM is headquartered in Baoding, Hebei, China. Although one of its many research and development centres is in Germany, its Munich, Germany European headquarters closed in 2024.

Where are GWM cars made?

GWM makes most of its cars in China, but it does have some smaller facilities in Thailand, Brazil and India.

Its main factory is located near the headquarters in Baoding, China, but it has a total of 10 plants in the country.

How big is the GWM factory?

GWM’s Baoding factory measures 1,500 mǔ, according to the site, which is around one square kilometre – enough for producing 380,000 cars per year.

Its Xushui Smart Factory is in the works, and will be 13x bigger than the Baoding factory. It should nearly double production to 750,000 cars annually.

Full GWM lineup

GWM ORA 03 (previously named ORA Funky Cat)

• From £24,995

• 48kWh battery, 193-mile range

• 63kWh range, 260-mile range

• 171hp, 250Nm electric motor

GWM ORA 07

GWM has been promising the 07 since 2023, but we’re still waiting for it to arrive in the UK. It promises to be a rival to the Tesla Model 3, MG IM 5 and BYD SEAL.

GWM POER300

• From £31,495+VAT

• 184hp, 480Nm 2.4-litre diesel engine

GWM Haval Jolion Pro

• From £23,995

• 189hp, 375Nm 1.5-litre hybrid

• 47.0mpg

GWM prices and value 

GWM is considered a Chinese challenger brand, which means it’s here to undercut many established rivals without compromising quality.

How much is a GWM car?

GWM cars are very reasonably priced, starting around the £24,000 mark and stretching up to the mid- 30s.

What is the cheapest GWM car?

GWM’s cheapest car is the Haval Jolion Pro Hybrid, but if you want full electric motoring to take advantage of off-peak rates, the ORA 03 isn’t much more and can be a lot cheaper to run.

GWM range and charging

The brand’s only electric car in the UK is the ORA 03, which offers two battery sizes: 48kWh for 193 miles of range, or up to 260 miles from a 63kWh battery.

Only the top-spec GT has a heat pump, which does wonders to your real-world range in the winter by using the battery less for heating the cabin.

PURE and PRO models do without this, so could easily lose 10% to 20% of their range when it gets cold (typical of all EVs – not just GWM).

At home, charging is limited to 6.6kW (not 7.2kW which is pretty average), so a full charge will take 7h20m to 9h30m.

Rapid charging is limited to 64kW, so a 15% to 80% charge will take around 42-48 minutes. This is pretty slow, with most other similar cars supporting at least 100kW for a similar charge in about 30 minutes.

GWM reliability and ownership 

GWM hasn’t been selling cars in the UK for long compared with more established brands, but early perceptions are strong, noting good build quality and strong value for money.

Euro NCAP awarded the GWM ORA 03 a full five-star safety rating, which is outstanding.

GWM’s warranty is also a strong point, at five years and with no mileage limit. It’s the same as Hyundai, and ahead of the industry-average three-year warranty.

EV batteries and drivetrains get the industry-average eight-year/100,000-mile cover.

Are GWM cars good?  

Though new to the UK, GWM is over four decades old, so it knows a thing or two about building cars.

The five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty you get is on par with Hyundai.

How reliable are GWM cars?

A relatively new brand in the UK and Europe, long-term reliability data is limited, but the strong warranty and positive customer feedback speaks volumes.

GWM vs. Tesla: which is better?

When comparing GWM and Tesla, there are a number of categories to consider. These are: 

Price: 

• GWM: £23,995-£44,916 

• Tesla: £39,990-£72,480 

Number of models in the UK: 

• GWM: Three 

• Tesla: Two (Four if you’re buying used)

Electric range: 

• GWM: 193-260 miles (EV only) 

• Tesla: 311-436 miles 

Charging speeds: 

• GWM: Up to 64kW (15-80% in 42-48min) 

• Tesla: 250kW (0-80% in less than 30min) 

Availability in the UK: 

• GWM: Three models are now available, new and used, with GWM 07 to follow

• Tesla: Model 3 and Model Y available new, Models 3/Y/S/X and Roadster available used 

Safety: 

• GWM: The GWM ORA 03 scored 5/5 stars at Euro NCAP 

• Tesla: All cars scored 5/5 stars at Euro NCAP

GWM UK availability

GWM entered the UK market in 2022, starting with the ORA Funky Cat which was renamed GWM ORA 03.

In 2025, the POER300 pick-up truck arrived, but without any electrified options.

In late 2024, GWM launched the Haval brand, which currently only comprises the Jolion Pro.

Explore used GWM cars

Interested in exceptional value for money? GWM already delivers this in buckets, but buying a used GWM for sale will save you even more.

Even better, buying a slightly older used ORA for sale will net you even more savings.

If you want to consider other forward-thinking models, we have savings across a whole range of used electric cars for sale, too.

Read more about Chinese electric cars:

• BYD: everything you need to know

• OMODA: everything you need to know