MG’s parent SAIC just clocked its 100 millionth vehicle. In the same stretch, Ford booked electric losses, General Motors revised its electric production plans, and Volkswagen warned on earnings.
SAIC Motor owns MG, and the group sold more than 4.5 million vehicles in 2025. In the first half of 2026 it sold more than 2 million. Almost 800,000 of those were electrified, and overseas sales rose by almost 49%. Chinese car makers are growing while the rest of the industry cuts back.
Our report on SAIC crossing 2 million put the half at 2.045 million deliveries, the first time a Chinese group managed it in six months. Of that, 796,000 were new-energy (electric and hybrid) vehicles, up 23.1%, and 735,000 sales were outside China, up 48.7%. June alone accounted for 395,000 worldwide, up 8.1%. IM Motors, the premium end of the group, more than doubled at 107%.
Ford reported large EV-related losses and cutbacks, and General Motors revised its electric production plans. Volkswagen warned of weaker earnings and restructuring costs, and several European manufacturers slowed battery investment as profits came under pressure. Elsewhere the announcements were factory closures, workforce reductions, or delayed electrification targets.
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ABOVE: The MGS6 EV
What Chinese Car Makers Do is Sacle Up
SAIC, BYD, Geely, and Chery treat electrification as an expansion plan rather than damage control, and domestic scale is what pays for it, even if helped along by the government. Chinese car makers spread research, battery, and software bills across millions of cars sold at home before they’re exported. In the same six months, the SAIC group put more than 20 new battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended models into world markets.
The Australian market is showing the same trends. Toyota led July on 20,409 cars and BYD took second on 7,857, with Chery, GWM, and MG on 4,615, 4,518, and 4,284, so four Chinese car makers made the monthly ten in our July VFACTS wrap. China supplied 33,634 of the new cars sold that month against Japan’s 26,292, which makes it the biggest single source of new vehicles in the country. Battery electrics took 23,510 sales, or 21.7% of the month. In June Toyota held the brand lead over BYD by 243 cars.
What the Spending Buys in an MG Showroom
The MG4 pushed electric driving into affordable territory, and the MGS6 EV brings MG’s latest dedicated electric platform. At the top of the SAIC portfolio, IM Motors launched the IM5 and IM6 with more advanced battery and intelligent vehicle systems aimed at premium rivals. MG is also building its first factory on the European mainland, in Galicia, on an investment of about 200 million euros, with production due in 2028 and capacity of up to 120,000 vehicles a year. MG is the top-selling Chinese brand in Europe, an 11th year in that spot despite tariffs.
Europe charges 45.3% on electric cars built by SAIC, a tariff in place since October 2024, but Australia charges nothing under the free trade agreement. And, unlike the EU, Australia’s has nothing to protect., with auto manufacturing being destroyed by the LNP government a decade ago.
MG’s range is widening with the MG7 at $44,990 plus on-road costs, but it is the MGU9 Black Edition at $57,990 drive-away that joins other Chinese utes giving Japan a headache.
The Badge Argument Is Wearing Thin
Large digital displays, over-the-air updates, advanced driver assistance, V2L, and high-output electric drivetrains now appear in mainstream models rather than the top of a luxury price list. Chinese car makers put that equipment into ordinary cars first, and expectations moved with it. People want the connected services (for better or for worse) and the current battery technology in a mainstream car at a mainstream price. For example, the ORA 5 sells at $33,990 driveaway a parity with a similar ICE small car.
The assumption that a European or Japanese badge means better technology gets harder to defend when the cheaper car has the longer equipment list and up to double the warranty.
More than a third of the cars sold here in July, 35.5% of the month, were built in China, and plenty of them wear badges from elsewhere. Tesla ships the Model 3 and Model Y from Shanghai. Volvo builds everything it sells here bar the XC90, Polestar the entire range, Mini the Cooper Electric and Aceman, Kia the EV5, Cupra the Tavascan, and Lotus the Eletre and Emeya.
SAIC’s next round of spending goes on semi-solid-state batteries, steer-by-wire systems, and AI-enabled vehicles. MG Motor Australia marketing director Dimitri Andreatidis tied the group’s global investment in product development and technology to what reaches markets including Australia. Chinese car makers are spending on the next generation of hardware while several competitors cut back.
The fact that the Chinese have forced prices down is clearer when placed against legacy brands. Subaru, Toyota and Nissan have slashed prices on their EVs by up to $16,000 in an effort to move slow sellers, and still those models remain unloved. MG’s 10 year warranty stands out as a major difference and recent changes now see the traction battery also covered for a decade.
Mid-Size EV SUV Comparison
| Specification | MG S6 EV (Essence RWD) | Nissan Ariya (Engage 2WD) | Toyota bZ4X (Motion 2WD) | Volkswagen ID.4 (Pro) | Subaru Solterra (AWD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Promo Price | $49,990 (Drive-away) | $49,990 (Special drive-away) | $55,990 (Plus on-roads) | $59,990 (Plus on-roads) | $61,990 (Plus on-roads) |
| Original Launch Price | Launched at current price | $55,840 (Plus on-roads) | $66,000+ (Plus on-roads) | Launched at current price | $77,990 (Plus on-roads) |
| Total Price Cut / Discount | $0 (Standard retail price) | Up to $12,500 off (Cleared to move stock) | Up to $11,000 off (Adjusted mid-2025) | $0 (Pre-adjusted for launch) | $16,000 off (Aggressive correction) |
| Drivetrain / Layout | Single Motor (Rear) | Single Motor (Front) | Single Motor (Front) | Single Motor (Rear) | Dual Motor (All-Wheel) |
| Power Output | 180 kW | 160 kW | 150 kW | 210 kW | 160 kW |
| Battery / WLTP Range | 77 kWh / 530 km | 63 kWh / 385 km | 71.4 kWh / 591 km | 77 kWh / 544 km | 71.4 kWh / 414 km |
| Standard Warranty | 10 Years / 250,000km | 5 Years (10 Years if dealer-serviced) | 5 Years / Unlimited km | 5 Years / Unlimited km | 5 Years / Unlimited km |
More MG Stories
- SAIC Motor Cracks Two Million as MG Floods Australia
- Toyota BYD Tesla Fight For Australia’s Sales Crown
- 2026 MG MGU9 Black Edition Launches First In Australia
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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