MG Motor India, as part of its “Make In India” initiative, has announced that its first vehicle will be launched in Q22019, followed by introduction of one new product to the Indian market every subsequent year. The company announced this while reiterating its commitment to the Indian market through its first-ever dealership experience event held here for seeking the right partners for its operations in India.
Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India said “To find dealers complementing the MG Motor brand synergy, the company will conduct an evaluation process in which key selection parameters include good market credibility, local market knowledge, financial background, digital savviness, excellent operational efficiency and capability to deliver a differentiated service commitment that surpasses industry standard and sets new benchmarks.”
“We are also looking at engaging diversified partners from the non-automotive business with proven experience across organized customer-oriented retail industry. With high degree of emphasis on digitization and business analytics, we will offer a strong support system to our dealer partners for running their operations effectively and profitably,” he said.
The company has committed Rs 2,000 crores investment in its Halol plant in Gujarat and and plans to roll out its first car – an SUV — with one car coming out every year, he said, adding “There is a huge opportunity in the space for electric vehicles, but we need to have the right elements and ecosystem in place. We are talking with all stakeholders including the Government.”
He said the carmaker, backed by strong R&D efforts by its parent company SAIC (SAIC Motor Corporation), is also actively considering offering new energy vehicles and is keenly looking to work with all stakeholders involved in implementing this technology commercially. MGMI had inaugurated its first manufacturing facility on September 21, 2017 at Halol in Gujarat and plans to manufacture from 2019 the MG brand of passenger cars in India – which is one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets, he said.
Highlighting SAIC as the 7th largest automobile manufacturer in the world and largest automaker in China, he said the company is ranked 41st in the Fortune 500 list with over US$ 110 billion turnover in 2017 and sale of 6.93 million vehicles in 2017, 23% market share in China and being the only automaker in China with abilities covering three technical lines: plug-in hybrid, pure electric and fuel cell. “SAIC is investing over US$ 3.2 billion towards R&D in the field of new energy vehicles, and has manufacturing bases in Thailand, Indonesia and India, besides research centres in Britain, USA and Israel alongside sales and marketing offices in the Middle east, South America, Australia and Europe,” he added.
