MG Motors shifts gears to alternative energy vehicles

As the auto industry shifts towards greener technologies across the world, MG Motors Pakistan has also stepped up efforts to get in the same lane with plans to introduce hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles. The company has already tasted success with its MG HS sports utility vehicle, both the imported and locally assembled petrol versions, selling a total of 15,000 units in the last two and a half years. For now, the company is looking to launch two new MG HS variants — Excite and 2.0 AWD — and its first sedan, the 1,600cc MG GT. In the coming years, MG plans to become the only brand in Pakistan to offer a range of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fully electric vehicles (EVs). Syed Asif Ahmed, general manager of the marketing division at MG, told Dawn during a visit to the company’s assembly plant in Lahore that the automaker was planning to bring locally assembled PHEVs in 2024 with an investment of 50 million Chinese yuan (around $7m). MG is also looking towards the government of Pakistan to formulate an EV-friendly policy. “Provided with robust policy support, MG can lead the transformation of Pakistan to new energy vehicles (NEVs) and reduce the fuel import bill,” Mr Ahmed added. The expansion plans for EV production depend on favourable policy support, and according to Mr Ahmed, the current MG facility in Lahore’s JW SEZ Autopark had ample space for this expansion.