To counter strong rivals, MG will prioritize new energy vehicles (NEVs) along with differentiated product offerings.
JSW MG Motor is expanding its operations in India in a big way on the back of new car launches and capacity expansion. Six new cars are planned to be launched in 2026. One of these will be the Starlight 560, which will be offered in EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions. Starlight 560 will compete with XUV 7XO and XEV 9S. Let’s get more details on this story.
NEV, focus on versatile architecture
As part of its long-term vision and core business strategy, MG is looking at NEVs contributing around 75-80% of its total sales. MG has already tasted success with the Windsor EV, which is the brand’s best-selling product in India. MG is working on Starlight 560C SUV for the midsize SUV segment. Based on the flexible F150 platform, the Starlight 560 is expected to be offered in EV and PHEV formats.
MG is focusing on developing a platform that can support both electrified and ICE powertrains. This will help the company rapidly introduce new products that meet emerging market dynamics and consumer expectations. Another strategy that MG is keen to implement is to offer differentiated products rather than creating just one more competitor in the segment. This can already be seen quite well with the Magister SUV, which is positioned as India’s first D+ segment SUV.
A similar approach is expected with the Starlight 560, which aims to offer something unique in the mid-size SUV segment. The PHEV will be particularly interesting to see, as it will introduce something completely new to the segment. The fight could be tough, as the XUV 7XO and XEV 9S have emerged as bestsellers.
In just 4 hours of the booking window opening, the combined bookings of these SUVs had crossed 93,000 units. The waiting period for the XUV 7XO has reached up to 12 months in some places. Apart from offering segment-above products, MG will also aggressively play the accessibility card. This is another factor that will play an important role in the efforts to break the dominance of ICE SUVs in India. Like PHEVs, MG’s NEVs are also likely to highlight their superior fuel efficiency.
Creating demand for NEVs through increased supply
Instead of waiting for demand to increase in the NEV segment, MG is working on increasing supply. The main assumption is that when buyers have a wide range of options to choose from, demand will automatically arise. MG is also actively studying untapped opportunities within the segment. These are exactly the areas that MG’s upcoming SUV will target. With the Starlight 560, MG could make a big impact in the ICE-dominated midsize SUV segment.
To accommodate its new models based on the Magister and F150 platforms, the MG plant is adapting and expanding. Halol facility is being reconfigured in Gujarat. There is a tremendous amount of work being done in the body shop. This will facilitate the production of new models and unlock the plant’s potential. MG aims to increase the capacity to 1.8 lakh units per annum by 2026 and further increase it to more than 3-3.5 lakh units after 2027.