MG cars return to Sri Lanka market via Micro Cars
View(s):Sri Lankans will soon see the return of MG cars – not in familiar sports or racing car models – but in semi luxury fashion with the launch of the MG ZS small utility vehicle (SUV), designed and engineered in Britain.
MG vehicles at the showroom
It was the first all-new MG to be launched in 16 years and also the 21st century incarnation of a 90 year-old brand that was once a byword for speed, open-topped and carefree about British sports cars.
The ZS was the latest offering from the British-born and now Chinese-owned MG brand, conceived to take on the popular SUV market in Sri Lanka after more than three decades
Euro Sports Auto Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary and the European Sports car arm of Micro Cars Ltd, has taken over the Sri Lankan stewardship of this famous MG ZS and is the sole agent for MG in Sri Lanka, company officials said.
“The new MG ZS was introduced to Sri Lanka in March 2018, and just within a very short period of time, has shown a promising future for its SUV on our island,” Dr. Lawrence Perera, Chairman/CEO Micro cars Ltd said.
Euro Sports Auto Lanka is eying future market conditions favourable for brand new semi luxury vehicles, he said, adding that even now there is considerable demand for these colourful models among the elite and new rich youth.
MG was traditionally owned and manufactured by Britain’s MG Motor Company Ltd before being taken over by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).
Today SAIC is the largest car manufacturing company in China and based in Shanghai and the assembler for world renounced-Volkswagen Group and General Motors Cadillac in the Chinese market.
Also SAIC’s global brand portfolio consists of MG and Rover and exports to leading markets, such as the UK, Australia and many European markets including Sri Lanka.
The MG ZS available in Sri Lanka is according to UK specifications, right down to being built on the same production line and specifications to those destined for the UK.
The ZS conforms to all required EU standards, including Euro 6 and EuroNCAP rash tests, also meeting to stringent Australian ADR standards, he added.
He noted that, “MG vehicles, as we know them today, are widely renowned for their racing heritage and rich history, which dates back to its inception in 1924.”
This iconic brand is not only cherished because of its emphasis on performance capabilities, it also enjoys a great loyalty across the globe, he pointed out.
The MG Car Company got its name from Morris Garages, a dealer of Morris cars in Oxford which began producing its own customised versions to the designs of Cecil Kimber, who joined the company as sales manager in 1921.