The Indian subsidiary brand of the Chinese automaker SAIC Motor is MG Motor, sometimes referred to as Morris Garages (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation). The company started its manufacturing operations back in 2017. Later in 2019, MG cars came into existence in the Indian automobile market.
It made its first amazing presence with MG Hector in India. The premium feels and innovative features of MG cars have opened the way for their success. Let’s look into the ‘5 Facts about MG cars that you didn’t know before’.
MG History
MG is a British marque which was founded as MG Car Company Limited (MGC) in 1924 by Cecil Kimber. Later in 1935, the company merged with Morris Garages and was owned by Morris Motors Limited.
The company was known for its small cars and sports cars. Through the years, the ownership of the MG company has changed hands across different business corporations. SAIC, the seventh-largest automotive manufacturing company in the world, also acquired MG in the year 2000.
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The Indian Journey
In September 2017, MG Motor started its manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat and shared the plans for India. After receiving a benchmark of 500 users in India, MG launched its first SUV, MG Hector in the Indian automobile market.
They made an initial investment of Rs 200 crores in the nation before beginning construction of the plant in October 2017. This facility has a large production capacity of 80,000 units annually. The proposal also called for the launch of 120 MG touchpoints nationwide by June 2019 and an increase to 250 showrooms by September 2019. At present, MG Motors is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana.
MG Hector is Rebranded Version of Baojun 530
MG Motor and Baojun brands are jointly owned by Chinese automakers under SAIC. The 2019 release of the MG Hector in India is a rebadged version of the Baojun 530 SUV, which is presently available in China. The model is quite identical to the Baojun 530 in terms of size and exterior design. The Halol-based plant of SAIC serves as the production hub for MG Hector.
Special Features
MG Hector was the first-ever SUV that came with a smart NextGen System. This system provided India’s first and largest portrait touchscreen infotainment which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The screen offers other features such as Real Time Navigation, Remote Location, Geo-Fencing, Emergency Response, and voice assistance with an Indian accent. MG Hector also came equipped with a 360-degree camera that makes driving and parking easy on congested roads. The model also includes the biggest panoramic sunroof, which is bigger than the sunroof on a Jeep Compass at 146 x 832 metres.
Competitive Pricing
When MG Motors launched the Hector, they aimed at 75 percent localization. Hence, it was priced between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). At that time, the Jeep Compass was the competitor model against Hector. However, Hector stood as a strong competitor against Hyundai Tucson, and Tata Harrier as well.
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