MG to double its Australian dealerships

Resurgent brand MG is in the process of doubling its dealer representation in Australia, with new locations to be opened shortly in Victoria and the ACT.

However, you still can’t buy an MG 3, MG 6 or MG GS in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin or Hobart.

The local MG distributor, MG Motor Australia, has announced it will be adding four new dealer showrooms to its Australian network by October this year: Two in the Albury-Wodonga region on the NSW-Victoria border and two in Canberra.

The Victorian Wodonga Car World dealerships will open this month at two central locations.

Dealer principal Tod Reed said: “As a family owned business with over 30 years’ experience, we’re looking forward to showing our customers the great things MG has to offer – namely, a robust product range, accessible price point, plus six years unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance.”

The two Canberra outlets, Beconnen MG and Phillip MG, are under the umbrella of the John McGrath Auto Group.

Dealer principal Warren Gill said: “We’re delighted to be the first dealer partner for MG in the ACT. We recognise the tremendous potential for this historic brand in the Australian market, and demonstrate this by offering the brand in two of our leading locations.”

But this is not the MG of old.

Rather than traditional sportily-inclined MGs – even the mid-engined MG TF roadsters that were sold here in the early 2000s – today’s MGs are Chinese-built, low-budget cars occupying the light hatchback (MG 3) and small hatchback (MG 6 Plus) categories, as well as the mid-size SUV segment where the company is fielding its newest model, the MG GS.

Now in the hands of China’s massive SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, MG is hopeful the new dealerships, on the back of existing operations in Campbelltown, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane, will help gain a foothold in Australia.

According to Zhu Chao, MG Motor Australia’s General Manager, more local MG retailers will be announced in due course -- presumably before the small ZS SUV launches here late this year.

“We’re pleased to see the momentum for MG Motor now being demonstrated by the appointment of our new dealers, with more to come. We continue to see strong enquiry from potential partners with several other locations in the pipeline.

“This is a significant move forward for MG in Australia. With the success of our latest model, the MG GS, and the highly anticipated launch of the MG ZS SUV later this year, we look forward to continued growth in this market.

“Our collaboration with dealers in the Australian market and investment in due diligence in the selection process is ensuring we are partnering with retailers who will deliver longevity to the MG brand.”

Future sporting MGs are not off the cards, however. Zhu Chao told motoring.com.au recently that the company has a backroom project under way that could see sporty MG two-seaters re-joining the so-far volume-focussed range, while recent news of a slinky electric coupe shows promise of MG being more than just a budget player.

Australian MG sales so far this year have totalled 372 vehicles, the bulk of which (291) are attributable to the Mazda3/Honda Civic/Subaru Impreza competitor, the MG 6 Plus. This is likely to be exceeded in time by the new GS SUV.