The Quiet Comeback of MG

The MG that sold the MG B and MG A in the 1960s was a very different company from the MG that sells the MG4 EV today. The original British Motor Corporation brand was known for affordable, charming sports cars that broke down often enough to require a dedicated tool kit in the boot. By 2005, after a series of ownership changes and financial collapses, MG was effectively dead.

SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned automotive group, acquired the remains of MG in 2007. The conventional wisdom at the time was that SAIC wanted the brand for its Chinese domestic market and any international presence would be marginal. That assessment turned out to be wrong.

MG returned to the UK market in 2011 with the MG6, a competent but unremarkable sedan. Sales were modest. The real breakthrough came with the MG ZS EV in 2020 and the MG4 EV in 2023. The MG4 became the best-selling electric vehicle in the UK for several months in 2023, outselling the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.3. Its combination of a competitive starting price, genuine 280 km real-world range, and European-tuned suspension gave buyers a compelling alternative to more expensive options.

As of 2025, MG sells vehicles in 65 countries. The brand's identity has shifted from "quirky British roadster" to "affordable, well-equipped electric vehicle." The old MG B and Midget enthusiasts may not recognize the new cars, but the volume of vehicles moving through dealerships suggests the strategy is working.

[UNCERTAIN CLAIM: The claim that MG4 was the UK best-selling EV for "several months" in 2023 is based on monthly SMMT registration data, which showed MG4 at or near the top of the EV charts in mid-2023. The exact number of months and ranking varies by data source. The 280 km real-world range figure is an approximation based on multiple road tests; WLTP-rated range for the MG4 is higher at 350 km.]