MG Motor keen on cracking Indian market

MG Motor India will first launch a Creta-rivaling mid-size SUV in the first half of 2019. The company is currently redoing the Halol plant, which it acquired from GM, and the work is on full steam. The company says its going to have to take on companies like GM, Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan, Skoda, Fiat and Ford.

"I'm the first one to say, it's not an easy job. That's why we need to do things in a different way; everything from product selection, product features to product assurance, customer experience and post-sale experience has to be carried out in a more meaningful and compelling way," Rajeev Chaba, president and managing director, MG Motor India said. "There is no silver bullet in the auto industry. Our advantage is we that don't have any baggage," he added.

To take on established players, MG will look to price its products attractively, with high localisation of contents and they intend to offer a richer customer experience with each car. "There’s a lot of scope and opportunity in that area in our country, be it sales, be it after-sales," Chaba said.

The company is also targeting a premium position, much like fellow newcomer Kia. "We would have to introduce a sub-four-metre SUV at some point in time since participation in most of the segments is imperative to become a mainstream player. So, I wouldn’t rule that out. But at this point in time we don’t have a plan," he added. After the SUV, the carmaker intends to introduce one new product every year.