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MG, the British automaker best known for its nimble sports cars, has been brought back from near oblivion by SAIC, the Chinese state-owned automaker that bought it in 2005. MG now boasts a small lineup of sedans, hatchbacks, and crossovers sold in both China and Europe. But it's got big plans for expansion.
According to CarNewsChina, MG general manager Chen Cui has told Chinese media that the brand will launched 13 new models globally—a mix of EVs and plug-in hybrids—over the next two years. It will also invest $1.4 billion in development for these new models. It's unlikely that we'll see any of these new models in the United States, however.
Fully Committed To ElectrificationMG
MG already sells some EVs, including the MG4 hatchback and the Cyberster convertible, but this expansion is centered on adding more electrified models to the lineup. That's because while MG has generated substantial foreign sales for SAIC, it's not a very popular brand in its adopted home of China, in part due to a lack of electrified models (known as "New Energy Vehicles" in China), according to CarNewsChina.
In the first half of the year, MG sold 153,100 units in Europe, but just 57,254 in China. The new-product push aims to address that imbalance, but could also lead to more enticing EVs for other markets. For example, the first of the new models is an updated MG4 available with a semi-solid-state battery pack, utilizing new battery tech that proponents claim will provide more range from a given pack volume.
Pre-sales of the new MG4 started in China August 5, with a full launch scheduled for August 29. Base models stick with liquid-electrolyte chemistry and start at 73,800-105,800 yuan (approximately $10,300-$14,760 at current exchange rates). Semi-solid-state versions will likely cost more.
Chinese EVs Still A Nonstarter In The U.S.MG will continue building cars in China in order take advantage of economies of scale offered by parent SAIC's manufacturing infrastructure, which is also being put to use for collaborations with Audi (for the China-only AUDI sub-brand) and smartphone maker Huawei (for its own brand of EVs). But that essentially precludes an MG return to the U.S. market.
Steep tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration as part of its global trade war, on top of import duties specifically targeting China-manufactured cars hiked up by the Biden Administration, will likely keep Chinese automakers out of the U.S. for the time being.
And while a recent survey found that a large share of Americans would consider a Chinese car, that was predicted on expectations of affordability, which may not be a priority for MG, which may try for upmarket positioning with its new models.
MG, the British automaker best known for its nimble sports cars, has been brought back from near oblivion by SAIC, the Chinese state-owned automaker that bought it in 2005. MG now boasts a small lineup of sedans, hatchbacks, and crossovers sold in both China and Europe. But it's got big plans for expansion.
According to CarNewsChina, MG general manager Chen Cui has told Chinese media that the brand will launched 13 new models globally—a mix of EVs and plug-in hybrids—over the next two years. It will also invest $1.4 billion in development for these new models. It's unlikely that we'll see any of these new models in the United States, however.
Fully Committed To ElectrificationMG
MG already sells some EVs, including the MG4 hatchback and the Cyberster convertible, but this expansion is centered on adding more electrified models to the lineup. That's because while MG has generated substantial foreign sales for SAIC, it's not a very popular brand in its adopted home of China, in part due to a lack of electrified models (known as "New Energy Vehicles" in China), according to CarNewsChina.
In the first half of the year, MG sold 153,100 units in Europe, but just 57,254 in China. The new-product push aims to address that imbalance, but could also lead to more enticing EVs for other markets. For example, the first of the new models is an updated MG4 available with a semi-solid-state battery pack, utilizing new battery tech that proponents claim will provide more range from a given pack volume.
Pre-sales of the new MG4 started in China August 5, with a full launch scheduled for August 29. Base models stick with liquid-electrolyte chemistry and start at 73,800-105,800 yuan (approximately $10,300-$14,760 at current exchange rates). Semi-solid-state versions will likely cost more.
Chinese EVs Still A Nonstarter In The U.S.MG will continue building cars in China in order take advantage of economies of scale offered by parent SAIC's manufacturing infrastructure, which is also being put to use for collaborations with Audi (for the China-only AUDI sub-brand) and smartphone maker Huawei (for its own brand of EVs). But that essentially precludes an MG return to the U.S. market.
Steep tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration as part of its global trade war, on top of import duties specifically targeting China-manufactured cars hiked up by the Biden Administration, will likely keep Chinese automakers out of the U.S. for the time being.
And while a recent survey found that a large share of Americans would consider a Chinese car, that was predicted on expectations of affordability, which may not be a priority for MG, which may try for upmarket positioning with its new models.