MG (Morris Garages) Motor India Pvt. Ltd., the 100% subsidiary of Chinese auto major SAIC Motor, on Wednesday unveiled its first product for India — the Hector — a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that will compete with Mahindra XUV 500, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Creta and Toyota Innova Crysta.
Though the company is yet to announce the price tag, the top end variant would be priced below ₹20 lakh, company officials said.
Bookings for the Hector would commence in early June and deliveries made soon after, they added.
With over 50 connected features, the Hector would also be available with a 48V hybrid version, besides the petrol and diesel engines.
“The MG Hector, as India’s first Internet car, has been built with a high level of localisation and comes power-packed with features, inside-out. As MG’s first offering in India, the Hector demonstrates our commitment to provide the best cars to Indian customers, that they love and appreciate,” said Rajeev Chaba, president and managing director, MG Motor India. He said by the end of 2020 the company will launch three more products with a target to be long term player in this market.
The second product to be launched later this year will be an electric SUV. And the third and fourth products will be for the mass segment, he said.
The Hector and other cars will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Halol, Gujarat. Currently the company has a network of 120 outlets across 50 cities and plans to expand its network to 250 outlets by the end of September this year.
MG Motor India has so far invested ₹2,200 crore to rebuild the Halol manufacturing facility once owned by General Motors India. The company has plans to invest another ₹2,800 crore in the near future, taking the total investment to ₹5,000 crore.
MG’s Halol plant currently has a production capacity of 80,000 units per annum and the company is expected to enhance capacity by 2020 when all the four products will be manufactured.
