MG Motor’s upcoming small electric vehicle for India: New details surface

After the success of the ZS EV, MG is working on an affordable electric vehicle for the Indian market. It will be an entry-level small electric vehicle. MG has codenamed the upcoming electric vehicle, E230. Recently, MG’s sister brand Wuling unveiled their new Air EV. It is expected that MG will make necessary modifications to the Air EV before they launch it in our country. Moreover, the company could reveal their version at the Auto Expo 2023.

When you first look at the vehicle, it looks quite funky and is compact. It has a two-door body style and is based on the company’s Global Small Electric Vehicles (GSEV). This platform could be used to manufacture different body styles.

The changes specific to Indian conditions could include a stronger climate control system and a tweaked battery management system to handle the scorching summers of our country. MG would not call the new electric vehicle Air EV. Instead, it will have a different name and will get an MG badge instead of a Wuling one.

Also read: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 spied ahead of launch (Video)

The doors of the vehicle are quite large which means it would be easier to get in and out of. There is a full-length light bar in the front that connects to the chrome strip which then connects to the outside door mirrors that are mounted on the doors. The headlamps are LED units and look a bit WagonR-lie. There are slim fog lamps in the bumper. The wheels measure 12-inches and are steel rims. MG might bring stylized wheel covers or alloys when they launch the electric vehicle in our country.

The charging port is located in the front of the vehicle. The windows are quite large and the second set of windows is placed vertically. Because of the small design, the front windshield is quite steep. It is quite obvious that MG sees the new electric vehicle being used in cities more than the highways.

The length of the electric vehicle is expected to be 2.9 metres so it is even shorter than Maruti Alto. To be precise, it is 400 mm shorter than the Alto. The wheelbase of the electric vehicle is 2,010 mm. So, the vehicle would feel quite nimble and easy to drive in the city. Parking should also not be a problem for the EV.

The battery capacity of the EV will be around 20 kWh to 25 kWh. The power output would be around 40 hp and a driving range of 150 km on a single charge. This driving range should be sufficient for daily commutes to the office or performing regular chores. Most of the time, the EV would be charged at home only. Because MG would be making India-specific changes, the batteries would be sourced locally from Tata AutoComp.

MG is known to load their vehicle with a lot of features and the upcoming EV will be no different. It will have a giant touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digital instrument cluster, connected car features and much more. It is expected that the new EV will be priced around Rs. 10 lakhs which seems a bit high for a two-door small hatchback.

Via Autocar India

Also read: Tata Nano modified into a vintage car