Autocar

CAN MG BECOME THE NEXT HYUNDAI OR KIA?

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IS THERE A car brand in the UK right now going about its business more impressive­ly than MG? It’s 11 years since the storied marque relaunched under Chinese ownership here with the 6, and for most of that time it has felt like a bit-part player.

Then the electric car era started and MG now finds itself making the right products at the right time for the right price and – crucially in the current market – able to quickly fulfil orders to keep up with rising demand for EVS.

In 2021, it was the UK’S fastestgro­wing mainstream brand, with sales up more than 60%. MG added over 40 new dealers, with plenty more planned.

For inspiratio­n on where it goes next, MG need only look at Kia and Hyundai, brands that felt similar a decade ago to where MG is now. They navigated the tricky path from fastgrowin­g upstarts to establishe­d players by adding in other qualities such as bolder design, more sophistica­ted dynamics and big leaps in perceived quality to ever more desirable products without abandoning their value roots.

They started to build performanc­e models, too. That’s something MG already has in the pipeline, with a new sports car due in 2024 (see p4). While MG’S progress has been under the radar to date, that will soon change with what it has in store next.

mark.tisshaw@haymarket.com @mtisshaw

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