Photo: MG
When SAIC first relaunched the MG brand in Britain, everybody was understandably worried that these new Chinese bosses would ruin the brand even more than the British ones could. Slowly but surely, they started pushing more and more Chinese kits assembled in Britain with a visible lack of success.
It's even worse overseas though. A report from drive.com.au states MG only managed under 50 cars in their first year on the Australian market. There's only one model on sale in the range, the MG6, which apparently had problems meeting local checks and failed to comply with certain unknown regulations.
“SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd received approval for the MG6 variants in 2012, with some amendments to the approval made subsequently as per standard certification processes,” a spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development said.
Howver, MG Australia spokesman Andrew Shaw denies this and says the lack of an automatic transmission and other problems with franchising local dealers are the true cause. He does, however, admit that the company is sitting on a huge stockpile of 300 or so cars which he says are not going to be sold. Instead, dealers are to use these for "service vehicles and demonstrators" as newer model year 2014 units are to be imported.
The same spokesman says an automatic MG6 and the new MG3 city car will be introduced this year and should arrive at a very reasonable price. The cars which are to be sold in Australia are going to be made in Thailand instead of China, with the MG spokesman insisting they are in it for the long run.
“We’ve got owners and a manufacturer with deep pockets and a lot of patience, and they know they need to bring in more products in line with what Australians want to drive,” he said.
“SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd received approval for the MG6 variants in 2012, with some amendments to the approval made subsequently as per standard certification processes,” a spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development said.
Howver, MG Australia spokesman Andrew Shaw denies this and says the lack of an automatic transmission and other problems with franchising local dealers are the true cause. He does, however, admit that the company is sitting on a huge stockpile of 300 or so cars which he says are not going to be sold. Instead, dealers are to use these for "service vehicles and demonstrators" as newer model year 2014 units are to be imported.
The same spokesman says an automatic MG6 and the new MG3 city car will be introduced this year and should arrive at a very reasonable price. The cars which are to be sold in Australia are going to be made in Thailand instead of China, with the MG spokesman insisting they are in it for the long run.
“We’ve got owners and a manufacturer with deep pockets and a lot of patience, and they know they need to bring in more products in line with what Australians want to drive,” he said.
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