Notification of big issue for China’s budget battery model yet to hit Government’s site.

OFFICAL notification of an apparent urgent remedial action of the cheapest electric car sold here, to avoid potential for possibly fatal electrocution, has yet to reach the national new vehicles recall site.

National media have reported that the GWM (Great Wall Motors) Ora, has been drawn into a call back to sort a potential software fault that, according to news stories, could risk a user getting a severe electric shock when unplugging the car at conclusion of its replenishment.

The action began in Australia last week; now it is understood New Zealand stock is involved.

A recall notice in Australia had her to reach the recall page hosted by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. Recall notification is a requirement in NZ. 

Australia’s recall notice says “due to a programming issue, if the operator removes the charging cable without cancelling the charge, an electrical arc between the charging plug and the vehicle may occur.

“If an electrical arc comes into contact with the operator or bystanders it will increase the risk of serious injury or death.”

The Stuff website says it has been told, via a specialist NZ EV vehicle reporting website, that GWM has said the recall applies here as well as across the Tasman.

Stuff says the EVs and Beyond site reports 523 Oras have been recalled in New Zealand, and 1659 have been recalled across the ditch in Australia.

The Ora recently made headlines from a price slash that made it the cheapest new electric car offered in NZ; the base Standard Range variant took that title from being prepositioned at $42,990. That drops to $35,975 plus on-road costs after the Clean Car rebate, which is expected to be gone by December 31, if not sooner.