MG Motor India has started road testing of its upcoming entry-level electric car. The new model is expected to be launched in the country in the first half of 2023. It is based on the Wuling Air EV, internally called E230 that debuted in Indonesia earlier this year. The company will make certain changes to meet the Indian market demands.
MG Motor India had already confirmed that it will launch an entry-level electric vehicle in the country before the end of this financial year. The new model will cost somewhere between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. The new model will be positioned as an urban commuter in the crowded cities.
The new MG compact EV will be the smallest passenger car in the country. It has a wheelbase of 2,010mm and measures 2.9 meters in length, which makes it around 400mm shorter than the Maruti Alto. The Indonesian-spec model rides on 12-inch steel wheels; however, the India-spec model could get alloy wheels. The spotted model is a left-hand drive vehicle. It features a tailgate mounted spare wheel, which is not offered on the Indonesian-spec model.
The small car will be modified and adapted for Indian conditions. MG engineers will update the air con and battery thermal management system. The small car will also receive a new name for our market. The new model will be equipped with several high-end features like a big touchscreen, a digital instrument console, connected car tech, wireless connectivity features and many more.
MG Motor India will source the battery pack from the homegrown Tata AutoComp. The Tata AutoComp has entered into a joint venture with Chinese battery supplier Gotion for the design, manufacturer, supply and service of Li-ion battery packs for EVs in India. Similar to the Tata Nexon, the MG E230 for India will use LFP cylindrical cells. These cells are cost effective, reliable and better suited to Indian conditions. The new model is reportedly to have a battery pack capacity of around 20kWh to 25kWh, which is likely to offer a real-world driving range of 150km. The powertrain is expected to offer 40bhp of power.
Source – AutoCarIndia
