Did you know that China makes Beetle clones? and it just got even better

The Volkswagen Beetle has not been sold in the US since 2019, when the final version marked the end of the New Beetle revival. Really a shame. But did you know that a company in China is building its own Beetle-inspired EV? And now, it’s getting a little better.

The oddly named Ora Ballet Cat looks like a modern interpretation of the original Type 1 Beetle, mixing retro styling and a slightly slimmer shape with modern technology. It debuts in 2022, but it’s a very niche model, with Ora only selling a few thousand examples each year. Pricing starts at around ¥193,000 (about $28,000).

For 2026, the company is hoping to attract more buyers with some updates under the skin. The biggest change is a new electric motor that replaces the previous unit, which made just 169 horsepower.

According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), as reported carnewschinaThe updated Ballet Cat now makes 201 hp. The upgrade increases its top speed from a modest 96 mph to a more respectable 112 mph. Power comes from a new lithium-iron phosphate battery pack.

Apart from the powertrain update, there aren’t many changes to China’s unique Beetle knockoff. The Ballet Cat is still packed with unusual features, including a large vanity mirror to help women apply makeup on the go and a selfie camera that can upload photos directly to social media. There’s also a “Warm Man Mode” that instantly warms the cabin at the press of a button.

Unfortunately, there is little chance that the Ora Ballet Cat will ever make its way to the US market. But that doesn’t mean we’ve given up hope that Volkswagen might eventually bring back the Beetle in some form.

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Source: Ora

Motor1’s Opinion: You know what? Knockoff or not, Ora’s fake beetle is kind of funny. It looks beautiful and has some really interesting features. The added power will make it even more attractive to Chinese buyers this year.