MG Motor announces initial ZS EV pricing

MG MOTOR Australia has announced initial pricing for its first-ever zero-emissions model, the ZS EV small SUV, which will be offered to early adopters with a driveaway price of $46,990.

The initial offer has been made available to the first 100 customers to place an order for the ZS EV, which is set to arrive in Australia next year. Full-time pricing is yet to be released.

For reference, the current ZS range tops out at $26,990 driveaway for the Essence grade.

When GoAuto drove the ZS EV in China in April, MG said it was hoping for a circa-$30,000 (plus on-road costs) price tag for the new model, however that has proved to be too ambitious for the brand.

Other comparable all-electric models include the Hyundai Kona Elite ($59,990 plus on-roads) and Ioniq Elite ($44,990), Renault Zoe Life ($47,490) and Nissan Leaf ($49,990).

Announced at the launch of the new flagship Australian dealer, Sydney City MG, the ZS EV is powered by an electric motor producing 105kW of power and 353Nm of torque.

Employing a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery, the ZS EV allows for up to 262km of range on a single charge (WLTP), with an 80 per cent charge achieved in 40 minutes via a 50kW DC fast charger, while a full charge with a 7kW AC charger takes seven hours.

Three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – will be available on the ZS EV to support a range of driving styles.

Full specification for the ZS EV has yet to be detailed, however equipment highlights include an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a six-speaker sound system, satellite navigation and a panoramic sunroof.

Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari said the ZS EV will launch at a time where mass-market EV adoption begins to ramp up in Australia.

“MG Motor is an iconic brand, so it’s highly spiriting to see the marque continue to innovate and offer such a practical, affordable electric SUV into the Australian market,” he said.

“The MG ZS EV comes at the perfect time, as we continue on our mission to accelerate the electrification of road transport for a sustainable and prosperous Australia.”

All ZS EVs will come with a seven-year/160,000km warranty, with a seven-year warranty also included for the battery.

The ZS EV was first revealed at the Guanzhou motor show in November 2018, however details about the zero-emissions contender were scarce at the time.

Despite most brands struggling in 2019 against a sustained market downturn, MG has flourished as it begins to stake its case as a mass-market brand in Australia, with 5975 sales to the end of September representing a huge 203.8 per cent increase over the 1967 sales it managed to the same period last year.

The ZS (2713) and MG3 hatch (2853) have done the heavy lifting, with the MG6 sedan and GS mid-size SUV adding small amounts of volume.