If MG launches the Cyberster in India, the likes of the BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 could be among its chief rivals.
25 Sep 2024 | 2531 Views | By Saptarshi Mondal, Autocar India
JSW MG Motor India recently announced an all-new retail channel called MG Select for its more premium offerings. Although the company hasn’t shared any details about the models it will retail from the MG Select channel, its chief growth officer, Gaurav Gupta, said in a recent interaction with Autocar India, ...
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JSW MG Motor India recently announced an all-new retail channel called MG Select for its more premium offerings. Although the company hasn’t shared any details about the models it will retail from the MG Select channel, its chief growth officer, Gaurav Gupta, said in a recent interaction with Autocar India, “Our plan is to get going by Q1 2025. So, within about six months from now, we are going to be in the market with our first product as well as our facilities.”
The MG Select channel will be dedicated to what MG calls NEVs (new energy vehicles), i.e., hybrids, PHEVs and EVs. The company has confirmed that for this channel, in the next two years, it will be bringing four new products, which it will assemble locally.
MG plans to start with 12 Select experience centres across India in the first phase and add more of them in a phased manner, eventually reaching out to Tier 2 cities.
Regarding the positioning of these models, Gupta said that the Select channel will be distinct from the existing MG Channel, which will continue as the mainstream brand. There will be no overlapping between the two. The Select channel will offer entry-luxury models and will be a standalone facility with workshops.
“To begin with, we are looking at products that will help us put a stick in the ground in the entry-luxury space. We feel there’s a lot of opportunity to offer something fresh to the customer, and we will have a good mix of product, pricing and experience,” he added.
The Cyberster, which MG had showcased in India earlier this year, is one of the likely candidates for the Select Channel. When pressed about the models that will be retailed through these outlets, Gupta said, “It is definitely one of the products that we have shortlisted from our portfolio.”
The Cyberster is MG’s first-ever electric sportscar. It is on sale in international markets and comes with two options for battery pack and motor. The entry-level model is powered by a single rear axle-mounted 308hp motor; it gets a 64kWh battery and a claimed range of 520km. The range-topping Cyberster has a 77kWh battery pack with a CLTC-rated range of 580km, its two motors making a combined 544hp and 725Nm.
If MG launches the Cyberster in India, the likes of the BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 could be among its chief rivals.