After a number of years of speedy progress promoting value-driven automobiles, MG Motor UK is launching its first premium-grade new automobiles this 12 months however the pragmatic model isn’t making dramatic, flashy calls for of its franchise traders.
It desires its new IM5 and IM6 fashions to compete within the premium segments, and engaging firm automotive drivers shall be key.
Previously, when mainstream manufacturers resembling Ford and Renault launched their premium-grade automobiles resembling the previous’s Vignale and the latter’s Vel Satis and Avantime, they instructed their sellers to spend money on distinctive show areas with totally different furnishings, fixings and know-how to assist distinguish the premium automobiles from their standard automotive vary.
In some cases, different OEMs have restricted the variety of sellers capable of promote their premium automobiles.
Man Pigounakis, business director at MG Motor UK, advised Automotive Administration that each the IM5 and IM6 shall be provided throughout the complete MG supplier community, bringing contemporary alternatives for the model’s 140 retail websites.
And there received’t be any distinction in the way in which the automobiles are retailed.
Pigounakis (pictured) stated: “We might count on all clients to have the identical buying expertise from all of our sellers whatever the product they’re shopping for.”
The gross sales combine for the brand new automobiles is anticipated to be 70:30 in favour of fleet, the place bigger, dearer fashions are common as a result of engaging tax incentives.
An intensive coaching programme is being rolled out to make sure retailers are aware of the superior know-how fitted to those newcomers.
The MG IM5 is a big electrical fastback with a variety of greater than 400 miles and costs that begins just under £40,000. It’s joined by the IM6, a family-sized SUV beginning at £47,995.
Because the begin of the 12 months, MG has lowered its volumes within the rental and Motability channels, the place it has beforehand registered a lot of autos.
The Motability market has shrunk by 19% this 12 months, with nearly 37,000 fewer autos registered year-to-date.
Pigounakis stated: “Although it is gone into vital decline, for plenty of causes, it is most likely being extra significantly contested as we speak than it ever has been.”
MG’s gross sales, general, have declined up to now, because of its choice to focus on retail gross sales.
In H1 2025, MG registered 42,617 automobiles – down from the 44,046 offered throughout the identical interval final 12 months. Crucially, it offered 6,000 extra automobiles, this 12 months, within the personal retail channel. This progress was pushed by its new ZS mannequin, the MG 3 and HS. The model’s largest decline was in Motability gross sales.
Within the fleet promote it has confronted a specific problem, with solely the MG 4 obtainable with an electrical powertrain throughout the first half of 2025. The brand new MG S5, a alternative for the ZS Electrical, has solely simply gone on sale and the ageing MG 5 was discontinued in 2024, This led to MG’s true fleet gross sales additionally declining, by 2,500 models.
Pigounakis added: “We reached that time in our evolution as a model the place we have taken a aware choice that we’re not simply taking quantity now.”
MG’s fleet gross sales are anticipated to surge in H2, nonetheless, as soon as the model’s new premium electrical fashions get into their stride. The brand new IM5 and IM6 will rival the segment-leading Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y, respectively.
Pigounakis stated true fleet is an “space of appreciable progress alternative” for the model, including “in case you have a look at the place the chance for us lies as a producer to construct our quantity of real finish person enterprise, it is received to be within the company sector.”
