GWM Malaysia today gave KLIMS 2026 visitors a first glimpse at two important electrified models for the local market: the Ora 5 HEV and the Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV.
Both are previews for now, so prices and launch dates have not been announced. But their roles are clear.
The Ora 5 HEV points to a broader future for Ora in Malaysia, moving the brand beyond battery-electric hatchbacks into hybrid crossovers.
The Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV, meanwhile, gives Haval a larger, boxier and more adventurous plug-in hybrid SUV to sit above its current family-focused offerings.
GWM Malaysia is showing the two models under its KLIMS theme, “For Every User, For Every Journey”.
Strip away the slogan, and it shows that GWM does not want to be seen as an EV-only player, a hybrid-only player or an SUV-only player. It wants a wider spread of vehicles and powertrains, from city EVs and hybrids to plug-in hybrid SUVs and Tank-branded off-roaders.
GWM Malaysia managing director of corporate affairs Cui Anqi said Malaysian buyers are now choosing vehicles based on lifestyle, purpose and personal priorities. The Ora 5 HEV and Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV, he said, reflected that shift while giving each brand a clearer role within GWM’s local line-up. (Note that GWM Malaysia has two managing directors under a recent reshuffle: the other one is Stan Li Hao who heads commercial operations.)
The Ora 5 HEV is the lighter, more urban of the two previews. It is a compact crossover powered by GWM’s new Hi2 intelligent hybrid system, with a 1.5-litre turbocharged hybrid powertrain producing 223PS and 476Nm.
That is a fair amount of shove for a city-focused crossover. GWM claims a 0–100kph time of 7.7 seconds, WLTC fuel consumption of 4.4 litres per 100km and a total driving range of up to 1,100km. Those numbers put it closer to a long-legged hybrid SUV than a purely style-led urban runabout.
Size-wise, the Ora 5 HEV measures 4,471 mm long, 1,833 mm wide and 1,641 mm tall, with a 2,720 mm wheelbase.
In other words, it is no tiny city pod. It is in the useful compact crossover zone, where Malaysian buyers tend to like the mix of manageable size, decent cabin room and enough ground clearance for daily use.
The design is also very Ora. The round-edged styling, waterdrop-style headlights, hidden tail-light treatment and petal-style low-drag wheels keep it close to the softer, more lifestyle-led personality already seen on the Ora Good Cat.
GWM is aiming this at young professionals, couples and connected urban users rather than traditional SUV buyers who want a bluff front end and heavy-duty image.
GWM is also leaning heavily on the Ora 5’s global credentials.
The model was named “Design of the Year” at the 2025 London Design Awards, while GWM said it also set a Guinness World Records title for lowest fuel consumption by a production hybrid SUV driving across municipalities in China, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 3.74 litres per 100km over a 3,004 km drive.
If the Ora 5 HEV is the urban lifestyle play, the Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV is GWM’s tougher-looking answer for buyers who want presence, plug-in hybrid power and some weekend-use credibility.
The H7 Hi4 PHEV uses GWM’s Hi4 plug-in hybrid system, producing 370PS and 750Nm. GWM claims a 0–100kph time of 6.2 seconds, up to 150km of pure electric range on the CLTC cycle and a total driving range of more than 1,000km. Local reporting has also pointed to a WLTP electric range of 115km, which is the more useful benchmark for Malaysian readers.
At 4,800 mm long, 1,950 mm wide and 1,843 mm tall, the H7 is a sizeable SUV. Its wheelbase is 2,738 mm, and the exterior goes for the fashionable boxy look, complete with squared-off lighting elements, a broad grille and rugged proportions. It is not trying to look sleek. It wants to look ready for rougher roads, car park ramps and the occasional muddy detour.
There is some hardware to back up the image. The H7 Hi4 PHEV has a 25-degree approach angle, 32-degree departure angle, 20.1-degree breakover angle, 580 mm wading depth and an electronically controlled rear differential lock.
That does not automatically make it a hardcore off-roader, but it does give it more credibility than the usual soft-road SUV wearing chunky trim.
GWM Malaysia chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah, said the two previews show the direction of the company’s Malaysian portfolio.
The Ora 5 HEV, he said, represents connected and lifestyle-led mobility, while the Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV expands Haval’s SUV offering into a more electrified and versatile space.
Beyond the two previews, GWM’s KLIMS 2026 stand also included the Haval H6 HEV, Wey G9 Hi4 PHEV, Tank 300 HEV, Tank 500 HEV and Ora Good Cat EV. There are also test-drive activities, interactive displays, booking offers and owner community activities during the show.
The Tank line-up gets its own obstacle course from June 12 to 14, giving visitors a chance to sample GWM’s off-road hardware in a controlled setting.
For Malaysia, GWM’s portfolio is starting to look more like a cohesive multi-brand attack. Ora gets the design-led urban role. Haval handles SUVs. Wey plays the premium card. Tank takes care of the rugged side. The Ora 5 HEV and Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV are the latest pieces in that wider plan.
