6 days Ago By William Stopford
wants to be a top-three auto brand in Australia by the end of this decade, a goal which could see it push past the likes of Mitsubishi and Hyundai. or signup to continue reading "For the first eight years, this is the first phase. Now we go to the next phase," said MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao.
MG returned to the Australian market – under Chinese ownership – in 2013. "The next phase, I want to use a three-year plan – 2025, 2026, 2027 – and we want to be in the top five in this market. "2028, 2029, 2030 is our next phase and we're aiming for top three," he said.
. To the end of October this year, Toyota remains in the top spot, as it has for more than two decades now, followed by Ford in second and Mazda in third. Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai follow, with MG in seventh spot overall.
Looking at calendar year 2023 figures, MG was also in seventh position with 58,346 sales. The top three spots were taken by Toyota (215,240 sales), Mazda (100,008) and Ford (87,800), respectively. Kia is , with its upcoming ute set to add 20,000 sales to its annual volumes, which could see the Korean brand sell around 100,000 vehicles annually.
To get a podium finish, MG will need to significantly increase its volumes, and it plans to do this with a huge influx of new product. "If you want an ICE [internal combustion engine] car, MG'll have seven models. If you love hybrids or plug-in hybrids, we'll have five models.
If you want to try an EV in the future, we will also have seven models," said Mr Ciao. "In the next 18 months, most models will come." MG currently has four petrol models ( , , , ), three hybrid or plug-in hybrid models (MG 3, new ZS, HS), and three electric vehicles ( , , ).
The company wouldn't detail all of the vehicles it intends to release in Australia, but has confirmed multiple models. The new will come here in the second quarter of 2025, replacing the ZS EV as MG's small electric SUV model. It won't wear the ZS EV nameplate.
Based on the same dedicated electric platform as the MG 4, it features standard rear-wheel drive and five-link independent rear suspension. The ES5 measures 4476mm long, 1849mm wide and 1621mm tall on a 2730mm wheelbase, making it slightly larger than the existing ZS EV. It features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque, making it good for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.
0 seconds, as well as a choice of 49.1kWh or 62.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
MG also plans to introduce the next-generation Marvel R mid-sized electric SUV, which has already been The outgoing model is built only in left-hand drive, but the new SUV will be built in right-hook guise and will take on the likes of the , and in Australia. MG has yet to reveal the new Marvel R, and we don't yet know any technical specifications for the model. MG will launch its first three-row SUV in Australia in the second or third quarter of 2025, and it'll be offered with both petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
It hasn't confirmed the name of the SUV yet for Australia, though it recently introduced a new model in markets like the Middle East and Mexico called the RX9. It's a lightly restyled version of the RX9 launched by sister SAIC Motor brand Roewe in 2022, much like the Roewe RX5 became the MG HS. The previous-generation RX9 was also sold in some markets as an MG.
In regions like the Middle East and Mexico, the new-generation SUV is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 150kW and 350Nm of torque, mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In China, there's a more powerful 178kW/392Nm 2.
0-litre turbo engine available. The RX9 measures 4983mm long, 1967mm wide and 1786mm tall on a 2915mm wheelbase, which makes it 17mm longer, 37mm wider and 31mm taller than a on a 65mm longer wheelbase. Inside, in addition to seating for seven, there's a pair of 12.
3-inch displays, as well as available heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats and a panoramic sunroof. Launching a petrol-powered medium-to-large passenger car in Australia in 2025 is certainly a left-field choice, but MG doesn't expect the MG 7 to be a high-volume model. The petrol-powered liftback will slot into the lineup as a rival for a dwindling number of mid-sized passenger cars available in our market, including the and .
In China, it's offered with either a 138kW/300Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto or a 192kW/405Nm 2.0-litre turbo four with a nine-speed auto.
Depending on the variant, available features include an electronic limited-slip differential, adaptive dampers, and an adaptive three-stage electric rear wing. Inside, there's a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.
25-inch digital instrument cluster situated in the same assembly, with an augmented reality head-up display option. A full suite of active safety technology is also available, depending on the variant, as are a 14-speaker Bose sound system, 256-colour ambient lighting, and heated and power-adjustable front seats. "In Australia, without a ute, you'll never get a chance to stand on the top three," said Mr Ciao.
Chief commercial officer Giles Belcher added: "Our plan is to be top five by the end of 2027 and top three by the end of 2030. You can't do it without a ute, so connect the dots." The executives' remarks all but confirm MG Motor Australia's first ute is on its way, but suggest that its launch could take place later in the decade.
It's unclear if this will be a new vehicle, or whether we can expect a lightly restyled version of an existing SAIC Motor product. While MG ruled out the Extender for Australia, sister brand LDV – or Maxus, as it's known in most markets – has a new, larger ute coming called the . This will also be available with electric power under the nameplate.
Both models will launch here with LDV badges during 2025. The Terron 9 will pack a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 164kW, while the eTerron 9 will offer the choice of 200kW single-motor rear-wheel drive or 325kW dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.
"We'll have another premium EV, in China called IM – one sedan, one SUV," said Mr Ciao. SAIC Motor's premium IM Motors brand currently offers a pair of sedans and a pair of SUVs. The newest of these vehicles – the L6 sedan and LS6 SUV – appear the most likely to come here, and will wear the MG octagon badge.
The LS6 is offered in China with 400V, 800V and 900V electrical systems; and 75kWh lithium iron phosphate and 83kWh and 100kWh ternary lithium batteries. Range is between 625km and 802km on the CLTC cycle. It measures 4910mm long, 1988mm wide and 1669mm tall on a 2960mm wheelbase, which makes it roughly the same size as a BMW iX.
In its least powerful rear-wheel drive guise, it produces 216kW of power and 450Nm of torque and does the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 6.4 seconds; in top-spec dual-motor all-wheel drive guise, it tackles the sprint in just 3.48 seconds thanks to outputs of 579kW and 800Nm.
Inside, there are 26.3-inch and 10.5-inch touchscreens, plus an available 15.
5-inch passenger display. Available equipment includes air suspension, a tank turn function, 20-speaker sound system and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, plus pet and camping modes. The L6 sedan closely resembles the LS6 SUV inside and out, down to the massive screens, and measures 4931mm long, 1960mm wide and 1474mm tall on a 2950mm wheelbase.
It's offered with the same range of batteries and powertrains, with the longest-range model – featuring a 100kWh battery and rear-wheel drive – claimed to travel up to 850km on a single charge. MG has been moving away from bargain basement models like the outgoing MG 3 hatchback, which was rceently replaced by a more expensive – if much better-equipped – new model. "Before, we just based on best price, now we will base on best price – still there – and very, very good technology, and a fit for the Australian market," said Mr Ciao.
The Cyberster electric sports car was recently launched as MG's most expensive model yet in Australia, priced from $115,000 before on-road costs. Earlier this year, Mr Ciao confirmed MG was plugging gaps in its lineup while also rolling out more premium vehicles. "From MG 3 to Cyberster.
.. each $10,000 I will put one model there [by 2027]," Mr Ciao .
"That means from 20 to 30, from 30 to 40, 40 to 50, and even 60 to 70, 70 to 80, 80 to 90 – all the segments – I will have a model launch for that." Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data.
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