Great Wall Motor confirmed that the company is ceasing new orders for its Black Cat and White Cat EV models from its ORA sub-brand, on February 16th.

Black Cat; photo credit: ORA

Moreover, the two models are said to face discontinuation, local ORA dealers added.

When local media outlets asked the automaker about the rumor, Great Wall Motor gave many reasons behind the suspended orders. According to the company, the crimped chip and auto parts supply and the national EV subsidy withdrawal caused the new vehicle orders to pile up. The stretched purchasing cycle has significantly slashed the auto brand’s customer experience. Hence, Great Wall Motor decided to withhold future orders for the ORA Black Cat and the White Cat, coordinating its resources to guarantee a smooth production and delivery for the backorders at hand.

On the other hand, in 2021, the ORA brand sold a total of 135,000 vehicles, soaring 140% year on year. In the first month of 2022, ORA sold 13,229 vehicles, 9,029 were from the Good Cat. However, the Good Cat is priced from RMB103,900 to RMB143,900 $16,402 to $22,716 while the Black Cat and the White Cat are priced under RMB89,000 $14,050 indicating a market position difference.

Furthermore, Great Wall Motor is launching several new Cat models this year, all said to be priced in the RMB150,000 to RMB200,000 tier $23,680 to $31,573).