SAIC-owned MG Motors is having big plans for its Indian operations. After launching the heavily localized MG Hector SUV (re-engineered version of China-spec Baojun 530) in mid-2019, the automaker will be gearing up to introduce it’s all-electric eZS SUV towards the end of this year.
Introduced at 2018 Guangzhou Auto Show, the eZS SUV will be initially imported into the country as CBU. MG Motors is planning to import 250 units, taking advantage of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification which exempts OEMs from undergoing homologation for models that are imported in limited numbers.
If the market response to the lifestyle electric SUV is good, the automaker is planning to eventually manufacture the model at its Halol facility in Gujarat with significant local content (including the battery). Given that the Indian government is mulling attractive incentives to promote EV sales, the localization of eZS could happen sooner than later.
The eZS adheres to MG Motors’ current global design philosophy and is a size smaller than the Hector. Given that it is gonna be a CBU electric vehicle, the price tag is expected to be over Rs 20 lakhs (ex-showroom). The model will be more of a brand shaper rather than a volume puller, at least as things stand now.
The MG eZS is powered by a 110 kW electric motor which derives electricity from a 45.6 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack. It has a range of 355 km as per NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). The India-spec model could employ the 52.5 kWh battery pack that is available in some SAIC products. The range is estimated to be over 400 km.
The electric MG SUV is expected to take 8 hours to reach full charge via an AC wall socket. Using a DC fast charger would recharge 80% of the battery in 30 minutes. The crossover is claimed to accelerate from 0-50 kmph in just 3.1 seconds.
The MG eZS will be pitted against the Hyundai Kona electric SUV which is set to be launched in a few months. The South Korean model is likely to command more premium owning to its global status. By 2020, our market will have quite a few electric SUVs to choose from as other automakers are expected to follow suit.
