GWM New Zealand registered 667 vehicles in October 2026, its best month so far, and the ORA 5 was the country’s best-selling electric vehicle.
GWM New Zealand has just had its best month ever, and an electric SUV helped get it there. The brand registered 667 vehicles in October 2026, beating the record it set in June.
That total gave GWM 4.4% of the new-vehicle market and seventh place for the month. The ORA 5 also finished October as New Zealand’s best-selling EV.
The Numbers Behind the Record
The Haval H6 sold the most. It recorded 299 registrations, which made it the ninth best-selling model in the country for October. On its own, that is close to half of GWM’s monthly total.
The ORA 5 added 123 registrations and the Haval Jolion added 113. Together, those three models made up most of the brand’s result.
- Total registrations: 667, a monthly record for GWM in New Zealand
- Market share: 4.4%, seventh overall for October
- Year to date: 4,673 registrations and a 3.7% share, sixth overall
- ORA 5: 7.1% of all EV registrations in October
A Small Number That Means a Lot
Leading the EV chart with 123 cars might sound modest. That figure says as much about the size of New Zealand’s EV market as it does about the ORA 5. A 7.1% share was enough to beat every other electric model on sale.
For GWM, it is still a useful result. An EV at the top of the chart gives the brand something new to talk about beyond its established SUV sellers. It also shows that the ORA 5 now plays a real part in the brand’s volume, not just its image.
More Choice, More Powertrains
GWM says the record reflects its effort to give Kiwi buyers more choice. New arrivals are central to that plan. They include the Haval H7, the Cannon Hi4-T PHEV and new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel options.
Country Manager Cameron Thomas called October a significant milestone for the brand. He pointed to the ORA 5’s EV win and the H6’s continued strength, which is a fair reading of the figures.
Chasing a Top Five Place
GWM is open about its goals. John Kett, Chief Operating Officer for GWM Australia and New Zealand, said a top-five finish in New Zealand is now “firmly within our reach”.
Kett also said a wave of new products and technologies will arrive over the next 12 months. He credited the local leadership team and dealer network, which have built the brand here over 18 years.
So how far off is it? GWM ranks sixth for the year so far, one place short of its target. October alone won’t close that gap. To get there, GWM needs to keep selling at this rate through 2027 as the H7 and the new Cannon variants reach showrooms.
