[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by GTO

MG Motors first YouTube videos are up.

Focus on UK & all that's cool (nothing about China). For obvious reasons:

Interesting, and I hope the cars they roll out are as interesting as the intro video; its achievable if the focus is to build on the European pedigree. They can take a leaf out of how Volvo brand has flourished under Geely Holdings, or even how Tata has turned around JLR.

[dZired]

Originally Posted by GTO

MG Motors first YouTube videos are up.

The MG ZS can be seen multiple times in the video. This might be an indication of it being the company's first product for the Indian market.

Internationally, the MG ZS is available with 2 petrol engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit and a 1.0-litre turbocharged powerplant.

[Ragavsr]

Originally Posted by dZired

Internationally, the MG ZS is available with 2 petrol engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit and a 1.0-litre turbocharged powerplant.

The biggest issue I see with MG cars are the powerplants : the lack of a diesel option will kill them in their infancy.

Petrol SUV models are the equivalent of dinosaurs anyways. Even a much wanted, so called premium brand like Honda couldn't survive without a diesel.

[theMAG]

Being a fan of the erstwhile MG, I was curious to see what the current Chinese-owned avatar looks like and went to their website now. This new crossover - the ZS, seems ideal for developing markets like India - with around 100/110 bhp as maximum power available.

It will be interesting to see how they market in India. MG is a name that is probably fading in public memory, restricted to a particular set of age groups that remembers the old MG; not sure there is widespread brand-recall.

[RavenAvi]

MG Motors to tee off their Indian innings with two SUV offerings in the next two years, according to an ET Auto report.

According to sources, MG Motors India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese automotive giant SAIC, may go with the GS and ZS SUV models for its India foray, starting with the Hyundai Creta competitor GS in the first half of the next financial year.

However, company officials said the product planning was still being finalised so the final details were not yet available. P Balendran, executive director, MG Motor India said, “The SUV segment is doing really well in India and we are certainly looking at (products) in that segment among other options. Our first product should hit the market in the first half of the next financial year but I cannot confirm which models because those details are still being worked out.’’

MG Motor India is investing around Rs 2,000 crore in the Indian market and is currently in the process of refurbishing the Halol plant of SAIC’s former partner GM India.

“We took over the Halol plant in September and we are working on getting it ready for production. The current plant capacity is 75,000 units per annum which can be further expanded, depending on the market requirement,’’ said Balendran.

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by theMAG

Being a fan of the erstwhile MG, I was curious to see what the current Chinese-owned avatar looks like and went to their website now. This new crossover - the ZS, seems ideal for developing markets like India - with around 100/110 bhp as maximum power available.

It will be interesting to see how they market in India. MG is a name that is probably fading in public memory, restricted to a particular set of age groups that remembers the old MG; not sure there is widespread brand-recall.

Struggled in the UK despite some massive discounting. The Longbridge assembly plant was subsequently shut down. The powertrains were quite mediocre and the fit and finish would not give the mainstream makers any headaches.

But they do make quite enticing used car buys due to the spectacular depreciation. Loses nearly 80% of its value in 4-5 years!

[TusharK]

MG Motor has invested Rs. 2,000 crore in its Indian operations till date. The SAIC-owned brand plans to add another Rs. 3,000 crore by 2025.



According to a media report, the fresh investment will be used to develop new products including an electric vehicle (EV). The carmaker plans to launch one new product every year starting 2019. The additional investment will help upgrade its production facility at Halol, Gujarat, increasing the installed capacity from 80,000 units to 1,00,000 units per annum. MG Motor India also plans to increase its workforce by 1,000 employees by the end of 2018.

MG Motor India's first product would be an SUV, which is expected to be launched in Q2 of next year. According to the carmaker, localisation of 80-85% of the parts required for the SUV has been completed and the company is now in the process of setting up a vendor base.

MG Motor India has also announced that it will be conducting dealer road shows across the country to connect with prospective dealer partners. The road shows will be held in Mumbai on March 28, 2018 followed by Delhi on April 6 and in Bangalore on April 16. The company aims to setup 300 sales and service outlets in India over the next 2 years. MG Motor India is reportedly hoping to sell 2,00,000 units in the first 5-6 years.

Source: The Economic Times

[camaroZL1]

They also put out a full page advertisement today in a leading newspaper, inviting applications for dealers. Seems like they are serious about capturing market share if they actually do manage to achieve the 80-85% localization goal.

[V.Narayan]

A Chinese company investing big time in India sounds very heartening. I am sure there are others but this one will be visible. India and China by geographical accident will always have a shade of rivalry and power posturing but the deeper the economic ties get the further (hopefully) will the risk of armed intervention. India cannot solve the terrorist problem on its western border alone or by arms. The more India becomes economically valuable to China the more motivation China has to reign in its junior partner. Good MG, SAIC.

Moving away from geo-politics to cars. I suspect MG/SAIC will work very hard to build a Hyundai type service quality and mark. In several fields - auto, trains, aircraft, ships, power plants, telecom etc - the Chinese as a nation are determined to prove themselves to be world leaders and willing to toil to go the extra mark. The customer usually benefits.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

India and China by geographical accident will always have a shade of rivalry and power posturing but the deeper the economic ties get the further (hopefully) will the risk of armed intervention.

Sticking to geo-politics, China is thick skinned when it comes to its perceived interests. China's high tech economy is integrated with Taiwanese economy and China has a much larger trade partnership with South Korea & Japan (when compared to India), but that doesn't stop them from sabre-rattling.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Moving away from geo-politics to cars. I suspect MG/SAIC will work very hard to build a Hyundai type service quality and mark. In several fields - auto, trains, aircraft, ships, power plants, telecom etc - the Chinese as a nation are determined to prove themselves to be world leaders and willing to toil to go the extra mark. The customer usually benefits.

Having worked with them, they like to overachieve even if there are no clear benefits. The law of diminishing returns does not exist for them. Saying that, I hope they actually produce good cars. The new MG's are a bit humdrum in terms of build quality etc.

[volkman10]

SAIC to introduce MG brand in India with ZS SUV.

The ZS SUV won't, however, be sold in India and is only being used to showcase the MG brand to various stakeholders

The MG ZS SUV will be shown to prospective dealers via roadshows conducted in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Dealer roadshows will be conducted in Mumbai on March 28, in Delhi on April 6 and in Bengaluru on April 16.

Parent company SAIC will introduce the MG brand in India with its ZS SUV at these events. The MG ZS SUV was first unveiled in 2016 and is sold in multiple markets internationally, including China and the United Kingdom. It comes with a 1.0-litre turbo and a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine options and rivals the likes of the Nissan Juke and the SsangYong Tivoli. The ZS SUV sits at the bottom of MG Motor’s SUV line-up, which also includes the larger GS SUV.

Link

[shashanka]

What an amazing resemblance in profile! Aside from the rear quarter -glass, the MG ZS (top) & the Creta look like twins!

[lionell]

The GM plant is now the MG plant.

Not sure how they are going to fare in the Indian car space. With KIA entering India the buzz they created is far far more than this unknown brand.

Seems like a tough way ahead for MG read (GM).

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

MG conducts dealer experience event -

https://youtu.be/DSKh2KHc0-Q

Looks like the initial two products coming out are both crossovers -