MG Motor India is gearing up with an entry-level electric vehicle (EV) based on the Wuling’s Air that was unveiled in Indonesia recently but the car may not see many takers in the medium to long term because it is likely to be priced steeply.
The Wuling’s Air EV — code-named E230 — is being designed for low-cost markets and can ideally be used as a mini commuter vehicle in small cities, semi-urban and rural areas in India.
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| The MG E230 -- Source: 91mobiles.com |
The E230 is the latest model to be built on MG’s Global Small Electric Vehicles (GSEV) platform that comes in multiple body styles.
The car is set to undergo a litany of modifications so as to make it suitable for Indian conditions. These could be primarily in areas such as battery pack heat management and air conditioning.
The Air EV comes with a fresh design that includes a full-width chrome light bar, a pair of distinctive creases that is there across the length of the vehicle, a split LED headlight system as well as integrated door handles.
If Indian buyers want it, the Air EV’s two-door system may be replaced by a four-door one.
The car’s length is around 2.9 metres, and MG plans to position it as an urban commuter. However, Indian cities may be unsuitable for a micro EV like MG’s E230, considering the hustle and bustle of urban traffic.
There will be a 20-25kWh battery pack that will allow a driving range of up to 150 km on a single charge.
To keep prices of the E230 on the lower end, MG plans to make electric vehicles locally by procuring battery packs and other components.
MG Motor plans to source the battery pack locally from Tata AutoComp, which has a pact with Chinese battery supplier Gotion for design, manufacture, supply as well as service of Li-ion battery packs for EVs in India.
The E230 will use LFP cylindrical cells, like the Tata Nexon EV. This is because they are cost effective, suitable for Indian conditions as well as reliable.
The MG E230 EV will come with a mega touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster and a string of connectivity features that could excite the youth as well as the trendy urban car buff.
The e-car may come with safety features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors.
The E230 is being equipped with the latest technology and gizmos to make it a value-for-money car.
MG will have to try hard on this (value for money) because it may be pricing its small car around Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million), which is high for a micro car in India.
Compare this to PMV Electric, which is set to roll out a similar micro car — EaS-E — for Rs 4 lakh (Rs 400,000) only.
The new MG E230 is set to hit the Indian roads around mid-2023. For MG, it may be an uphill task to maintain the sales momentum of its small car at this price.
It could have done so in semi-urban and rural areas but since the pricing is on the higher side, this may be difficult.
In fact, selling a two-door small hatchback at a price of Rs 10 lakh could be an uphill task for any carmaker in India.
Owing to the steep pricing, small cities and towns of India — where this small car could have been pitched as an alternative to two-wheelers — may shy away from the MG E230 EV.
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