Big international car brand returns to South Africa

MG will be making a return to South Africa on Tuesday (21 January), with the now Chinese-owned car brand offering three new models to the local market.
The car brand has come and gone in South Africa over the decades, reentering the country in 2011 but leaving again in 2016.
The 100-year-old company was founded as Morris Garages by William Morris in the UK, with the brand becoming well-known for its sports car offerings.
The company was then taken over by SAIC Motor (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) in 2007.
MG vehicles are now designed and developed by SAIC, and manufacturing mainly occurs in China.
MG has been China’s largest single-brand car exporter since 2019 and produced 840,000 vehicles globally in 2023.
88% of the group’s sales occurred outside of China, and it has been named the fastest-growing automotive brand in the UK for the past two years.
“We are confident MG will perform just as well in the local market,” said Sky Zhang, general manager for MG Motor South Africa.
“This is why we are launching initially with 25 dealers with plans for more over the next two years.”
“We understand that driving preferences vary significantly across regions, and we’ve placed a strong emphasis on tailoring our offerings.”
This is aimed at meeting the specific tastes of local consumers and engineering these likes and dislikes into its design and engineering processes.
“This makes MG so much more than just an affordable car; it stands out as a brand designed for mainstream markets with a unique identity.”
Zhang added that the brand is dedicated to ensuring local stability, which includes comprehensive service and support networks, leading to local job creation and partnerships.
The company is also committed to establishing a sound parts supply chain in South Africa, with its National Parts Distribution Centre already in place in Isando, Kempton Park.
A locally available inventory of parts has also been sourced to minimise downtime and deliver efficient servicing.
MG is also offering a comprehensive service plan and a “class-leading” warranty.
The cars
With its launch, MG is offering three cars.
The MG ZS is the cheapest model in the new MG lineup, with the crossover having a starting price of under R300,000.
The MG HS is a midsize SUV with prices starting from R500,000 and rising to over R650,000.
The final part of the lineup is the MG Cyberster, an electric sports car, starting from R1.4 million.
According to MG’s LinkedIn, the new cars will launch in South Africa tomorrow, 21 January 2025.
Details of the new cars can be found below:
Model | Retail Including VAT | Warranty | Service |
ZS 1.5 Comfort A/T | R289 900,00 | 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years unlimited on engine) | 5-year/60,000km service plan |
ZS 1.5 Luxury A/T | R309 900,00 | ||
HS Comfort 1.5T A/T | R499 900,00 | 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years unlimited on engine) | 5-year/90,000km service plan |
HS Luxury 1.5T A/T | R534 900,00 | ||
HS Comfort 2.0T A/T | R629 900,00 | ||
HS Luxury 2.0T A/T | R665 900,00 | ||
Cyberster (EV) | R1 399 900,00 | 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years/250,000km on powertrain) | 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan |
MG ZS
- From R289,900 to R309,900
- Warranty: 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years unlimited on engine)
- Service Plan: 5-year/60,000km service plan
MG HS
- From R499 900 to R534,900
- Warranty: 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years unlimited on engine)
- Service Plan: 5-year/90,000km service plan
MG Cyberster (EV)
- R1 399 900
- Warranty: 7 years (5 years/200,000km on vehicle & 7 years/250,000km on powertrain)
- Service Plan: 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan
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