Initial MG Motor products consisted of refreshed MG Rover vehicles, such as the MG TF, the first-generation MG3 and the first-generation MG7. MG Motor began releasing new vehicles in 2011, starting with the MG6 then the second-generation MG3. MG Motor also markets rebadged vehicles from parent company SAIC Motor such as Roewe and Maxus, alongside vehicles dedicated for the MG brand.
MG Motor started producing vehicles in India since 2019, where some of the products are sourced from corporate sibling SAIC-GM-Wuling. Products such as the MG Hector and MG Comet EV are exclusive to India. The marque also offered commercial vehicles only for Thailand, such as the MG V80 and MG Extender which are sourced from Maxus.
At the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2013, MG showcased a concept car that previews its first SUV model, the MG GS. The production version of the GS went on sale in China in March 2015. The GS went on sale in the UK in June 2016. MG Motor followed up the release of the GS with a smaller SUV, the ZS, which went on to become the most popular MG model globally. In 2018, the GS was replaced by the MG HS, and by January 2023, it was named the best selling car of the month in the United Kingdom. Sales of MG vehicles in the United Kingdom had increased 108% when compared to sale figures from January 2022.
The first production electric car from MG is the eZS (ZS EV outside China), which was announced at the 2018 Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Based on the ZS SUV, the vehicle became available in export markets such as the UK and Europe as the MG ZS EV since 2019. The ZS EV was followed by the MG5 SW EV (a rebadged Roewe Ei5), which went on sale in the UK in September 2020 and in Thailand in November 2020 (as the MG EP). The MG4 EV, introduced in July 2022, helped MG increase its sales in Europe significantly. The model is a European-focused C-segment hatchback with a dedicated electric vehicle platform called the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). The XPower variant, borrowing its name from MG's older performance line, went on sale in 2023. In 2023, MG introduced another electric car and its first roadster, the Cyberster, which went on sale in 2024.
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Recent history and prominence
In 2024, MG introduced the new generation of the three of its internal combustion engine vehicles, the MG3, MG HS, and MG ZS. The new generation HS is a rebadged model of the Chinese market Roewe RX5.
The most popular MG Motor product in international markets is the MG ZS. It is one of the most exported car from China, with 201,874 units exported from China to international markets in 2023, not including the MG ZS EV with 49,418 units exported. Total cumulative sales of the ZS since its introduction reached 999,612 units as of December 2023. The ZS consistently ranks amongst the top ten of the best selling cars in the United Kingdom. As of May 2025, it ranked as the 6th best selling vehicle in the United Kingdom of the year so far. In 2025, the hybrid version of the MG ZS was awarded Best Hybrid Car by British motoring magazine Carbuyer.
Operations
Development
MG Motor cars were once engineered by SAIC at the Longbridge plant facility in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Longbridge was formerly home to Austin, British Leyland, Rover Group and, later, the MG Rover Group. Currently, most of the design, development and R&D takes place in China by SAIC Motor R&D Innovation Headquarters (SRIH).
The Longbridge facility has been retained as the base to SAIC Motor Technical Centre UK (SMTC), which had significant design and engineering input into SAIC products globally. SMTC once employed around 500 people at its peak. SAIC reduced its presence in Longbridge in 2019 with the large Technical Centre downsized to 20 staff and moved to London. The facility used to host a design studio, before moving to London.
SAIC Design Advanced London at Marylebone Road in London succeeded the Longbridge design studio. Led by Carl Gotham and Robert Lemmens with 20 employees, the studio conducted some key design work for MG vehicles and works in conjunction with the automotive manufacturer's other studios to support future product designs for brands including MG, Roewe and Rising Auto.
Some MG models particularly in India were developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint venture that is majority owned by SAIC.
Production
After MG Rover collapsed, Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) resumed production at the Longbridge plant in 2008. NAC used Longbridge to produce the MG TF, which they mildly redeveloped. SAIC took ownership of the MG brand, and from 2010 onwards, the MG6 was produced in China. From 13 April 2011, MG Motor started producing the MG6 at Longbridge. From 2013, the MG 3 also saw some limited final assembly at the same factory. Activity at Longbridge was later gradually reduced. In September 2016, MG Motor ended production at the Longbridge facility, with Matthew Cheyne, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK, citing "moving production abroad was a necessary business decision". Cheyne claimed that the company "did no actual production there", with workers only performing minimal additions for the three models, the MG3, MG6 and MG GS that came as knock-down kits. 25 employees were made redundant as a result of the move and other employees moved to different areas. This marked the end of MG production in the UK, and production was fully moved to China.
In December 2017, MG Motor opened its first overseas plant outside China in UK in Chonburi, Thailand. The plant was established and operated by a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Charoen Pokphand, a Thai conglomerate company. The plant has a total annual production capacity of 100,000 units. The new plant replaced an older plant located in Rayong that was used since 2014, which had an annual production capacity of 50,000 units and had been closed since. In 2022, the facility exported 6,684 vehicles to Vietnam and Indonesia.
In 2019, SAIC Motor opened its fourth factory in China located in Ningde, Fujian, that is mainly used for producing and exporting MG vehicles. It is SAIC’s fourth factory in China, after plants in Shanghai, Nanjing and Zhengzhou. The 5-billion yuan ($702 million) factory is capable of producing up to 240,000 vehicles a year at full capacity, increasing SAIC's annual production capacity in China from 740,000 to 980,000 vehicles. The first vehicle produced in the plant was the plug-in hybrid version of the MG HS.
Marketing
In most markets outside UK and Europe, MG vehicles are fitted with a "Brit Dynamics" emblem, as part of the "Brit Dynamics" marketing campaign that highlights "British" engineering, styling and driving behaviour. Starting 2016, MG is a sponsorship partner of football club Liverpool F.C. Initially a regional partnership for the Chinese market, since July 2019 MG extended their existing long-term regional relationship to incorporate global markets. The partnership ended in mid-2022. In January 2024, MG Motor UK announced a multi-year sponsorship with London football club Arsenal F.C. Previously, MG Motor has previously sponsored Copa Sudamericana, the secondary pan-continental clubs competition in South America, as well as French football club Olympique Lyonnais.
Markets
Australia
MG Motor started selling cars in Australia since 2013 through a direct factory-backed operation, instead of local distributor-led operation. Between 2013 and 2016, the brand sold a single model, the MG6, with the MG3, MG6, and the GS joining in 2016. In the country, the brand went from selling just 600 cars in 2017 to 58,346 units in 2023, becoming the seventh best-selling brand in Australia. The brand's popularity in the country were widely attributed to its competitive pricing.
Continental Europe
MG Motor started its sales operations in continental Europe in late 2019 separate from its UK operations, when company established SAIC Motor Europe B.V. and a European headquarter in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, MG started selling the ZS EV in late 2019, and also sells its models through the Woonexpress home furnishings group's outlets. In February 2020, MG entered Norway, which has a mature electric vehicle market. Later that year, MG expanded to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Luxembourg. In 2021, MG entered Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Portugal. In November 2022, MG Motor merged its European and UK operations into a single business.
During the first half of 2023, MG and Tesla were the two brands with the largest growth in Europe. According to JATO Dynamics, the brand registered 104,300 vehicles in H1 2023, a growth of 128 percent compared to H1 2022. The sales increase was attributed to the introduction of the popular MG4 EV. Electric vehicles are MG Motor's strength in the market, as unlike other manufacturers, SAIC is not restricted on traction battery supply and production volume.
In July 2023, Yu De, general manager of SAIC's international business department stated that Europe market is will be SAIC's largest overseas market, with annual vehicle sales predicted to surpass 200,000 units in the longer term. The company indicated that it is studying plans to establish a manufacturing base in Europe. As of July 2023, MG Motor asserted its position of not having official presence in the Russian market, due to the complications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In June 2024, the European Commission imposed an additional 38.1 percent import duty on top of the existing 15 percent to SAIC Motor electric vehicles imported to the European Union, including MG Motor, following EU's anti-subsidy investigation into SAIC and other Chinese manufacturers. The tariffs subjected to SAIC vehicles are the highest among Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that are affected. SAIC MG released a statement condemning the decision, noting that the tariffs are a form of unfair market discrimination that went against the principles of free trade. MG reported that it delivered 231,818 vehicles in the European market in 2023. On 26 June, after receiving more information from the SAIC, the EU reduced the proposed tariffs from 38.1 percent to 37.6 percent. In July 2024, SAIC issued a statement stating that it would formally request the European Commission to hold a hearing on the anti-subsidy investigation.
It was reported that 7 out of every 10 cars exported from China to Europe in 2024 (up to September) are from MG. Zhu Yong, the deputy general manager of SAIC Passenger Vehicle, remarked that, "we don't make money in China, but we can still make money internationally even if tariffs are added."
Russia
MG Motor debuted in Russia in April 2024. MG vehicles in Russia are distributed by local company Mir-Distributor.
India
MG-branded vehicles are manufactured and distributed by MG Motor India, a SAIC Motor subsidiary, which was established in 2017 and started operations in 2019. The company acquired a former General Motors facility in Halol, Gujarat. It is the only region where MG acquired models from SAIC-GM-Wuling, such as the MG Hector, MG Comet EV and MG Windsor EV which are rebadged Baojun 530, Wuling Air EV and Baojun Yunduo respectively.
In November 2023, the company entered into a strategic joint venture with JSW Group, which allowed the latter to acquire 35% in the company due to restriction by the Indian government of receiving funding from China. Following the tie-up, the company was renamed to JSW MG Motor India.
Mexico
MG Motor entered the Mexican market in late 2020. From October 2020 to April 2021, the brand opened 34 dealerships in the country and has sold over 2,000 vehicles. In 2023, the brand sold 60,128 units in the country, representing an increase of 25 percent compared to 2022. In that year, MG became the eighth best-selling brand in Mexico with a market share of 4.4 percent.
Middle East
MG vehicles officially sold in the GCC market are imported and distributed by Auto Class Cars in Qatar, Inter Emirates Motors in the UAE, Zayani Motors of Bahrain, Jiad Modern Motors of Saudi Arabia, Mohsin Haider Darwish of Oman and Adel Alghanim Automotive in Kuwait.
Morocco
MG vehicles are being distributed in Morocco by Abdul Latif Jameel since early 2023, making it MG Motors’ first market on the African continent under its current incarnation.
Pakistan
MG vehicles are assembled and distributed in Pakistan by MG JW Automobile Pakistan, part of local company JW Auto Park owned by local businessman Javed Afridi. In 2020, it introduced three SUVs in Pakistan, namely the MG HS, ZS and ZS EV. The company set up an assembly plant in Raiwind, Lahore, which also assembles MG electric cars alongside the petrol-powered cars.
Thailand
MG vehicles in Thailand are locally assembled in Chonburi by SAIC Motor-CP Co., Ltd., a joint venture between SAIC Motor (51 percent) Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (49 percent). MG vehicles are distributed in Thailand by MG Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The brand debuted in the country in March 2014 at the Bangkok Motor Show.
Indonesia
MG Motor entered the Indonesian market in March 2020 under PT SAIC Motor Indonesia, a subsidiary of SAIC. In February 2024, MG Motor started assembling electric vehicles in a facility owned by another SAIC subsidiary, SGMW Motor Indonesia, which include the MG4 EV and MG ZS EV.
Philippines
MG operated in the Philippine market in 2015 until 2018 under Morris Garages Philippines. From October 2018 to July 2023, The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) was the distributor and importer of MG brand vehicles, with a network of 42 dealerships nationwide. On 1 August 2023, SAIC Motor Philippines, Inc. (SMP), a subsidiary of SAIC became the new distributor and importer of MG products and services, with a total of 44 MG-branded dealerships across the country.
Singapore
In Singapore, Eurokars Group was appointed the official distributor of MG cars in October 2019 and launched two models, the electric MG ZS EV and the MG HS SUV, at the 2020 Singapore Motorshow.
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