MG Motor has experienced its share of highs and lows and is often regarded as a pioneer in smart technology and electric vehicles. MG Motor, now known as JSW MG Motor, made a bold move by launching the ZS EV in 2019 when there weren’t any EVs available in the market barring the Mahindra Verito. Despite a downturn in demand within the Indian and global EV markets, JSW MG Motor achieved a 21 per cent year-on-year growth in the EV sector in June. We had the opportunity to speak with Rajeev Chaba, CEO Emeritus of MG Motor India, who provided insights into the forthcoming new vehicle and discussed whether the budget will clarify the confusion surrounding incentives for hybrid vehicles.
JSW MG Motor: New crossover utility vehicle
JSW Motor has confirmed that it will roll out five new products over the year. Two will be in the premium range, while the rest three for the mainstream segment. “The first product, a crossover or CUV, will be released during the festive season,” stated Chaba. JSW MG Motor describes the crossover as a blend of a sedan’s comfort with the utility and advantages of an SUV. “Packed with features, the intelligent CUV is slated for a September or October launch,” Chaba further mentioned.
JSW MG Motor has not disclosed whether the crossover will be an electric vehicle (EV) or feature an internal combustion engine. Presently, the automaker is testing the Cloud EV. In China, this model is marketed under the Wuling brand, which falls under the umbrella of the parent company SAIC. The dimensions of the Cloud EV are 4,295 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, and 1,652 mm in height. Wuling claims that the crossover can travel up to 460 km on a single charge.
JSW MG Motor on incentives: To be or not to be
Recently, Uttar Pradesh has waived the registration tax on hybrid vehicles priced below Rs 20 lakh, sparking a debate on whether the GST rate for hybrid vehicles should be reduced from 43 per cent. There has been no official statement from the Finance Ministry. Regarding the possibility of resolving this by July 23rd, when the budget is to be presented, Chaba mentioned that it remains uncertain and they must wait and see. He emphasized that policymaking should be innovative and not rely on older criteria. He suggested, “the GST rates for vehicles should be determined by their tailpipe emissions, ranging from EVs and strong hybrids, including plug-in hybrids (PHEV), to mild hybrids, biofuels, CNG, etc. He noted that currently, there are no PHEVs available in India.”
JSW MG Motor: Future Plans
In addition to launching new vehicles, JSW MG Motor is concentrating on its new Halol facility in Gujarat. The company aims to produce 3 lakh units annually with this expansion. “With our capacity increasing to 300,000 units per year, we must introduce new products, starting with a Crossover Utility vehicle set for a Diwali release,” stated Chaba to the press.
Discussing the growing EV market, 93,000 units were sold in the previous year, and Chaba anticipates a steady increase to 120,000 vehicles this year. JSW MG Motor has been consistently selling around 1,000 EV units, including the Comet and ZS EV, with the former being priced below ₹10 lakh and the latter above ₹20 lakh.
