Cyberster - what we know so far

[MGDriver]

Can you clarify whether dealers have been told what cars (quantity, colour, etc) they're receiving from this first batch, and have individual customer orders been allocated yet?

Potentially some dealers have but cant confirm if they have for definite, looking at my dealer group, the cars are showing as shortage and we have been told we wont find out till next week

 

[tarbat]

Hopefully MG UK don't mind me sharing this - it wasn't marked as confidential.

So, it turns out my dealer was NOT lying. Email reply from Guy P:
"There are a number of cars at the docks undergoing software updates which is the normal process to ensure all new models have the very latest versions of the software required, that however has not been holding them up. We are expecting to start deliveries wk comm 16th September"

Unless MG4Driver is also accusing MG UK of lying.

Guy P has also been able to confirm that my Cyberster "is actually on a ship and wont arrive until the end of the month, realistically that means the earliest we will get it to Inverness is in the first half of October." Very dissapointed

 

[MGDriver]

Hopefully MG UK don't mind me sharing this - it wasn't marked as confidential.

So, it turns out my dealer was NOT lying. Email reply from Guy P:
"There are a number of cars at the docks undergoing software updates which is the normal process to ensure all new models have the very latest versions of the software required, that however has not been holding them up. We are expecting to start deliveries wk comm 16th September"

Unless MG4Driver is also accusing MG UK of lying.

Guy P has also been able to confirm that my Cyberster "is actually on a ship and wont arrive until the end of the month, realistically that means the earliest we will get it to Inverness is in the first half of October." Very dissapointed

Everything I have said is based on the OFFICIAL Dealer Communications rather than an email to a particular induvidual, but as I mentioned before software updated get completed upon PDI at the dealers

 

[tarbat]

Everything I have said is based on the OFFICIAL Dealer Communications rather than an email to a particular induvidual, but as I mentioned before software updated get completed upon PDI at the dealers

I'll take an email from Guy Pigounakis, the Commercial Director of MG UK as "official". It's his name on the Official Dealer Comms. QUOTE: "There are a number of cars at the docks undergoing software updates which is the normal process"

 

[MGDriver]

I'll take an email from Guy Pigounakis, the Commercial Director of MG UK as "official" !

As I said, if its not on the Dealer portal communications then its not the gospel truth,

I aint carrying on with this pettyness, instead of arguing, go and decide whether you are truly dissapointed or not that you wont be one of the first on the road with one

what I would like to know is how you expect them to complete software updates at the docs in the fields where they are parked, with no 12V battery charger, no WiFi or hardwired connection

 

[tarbat]

I aint carrying on with this pettyness, instead of arguing, go and decide whether you are truly dissapointed or not that you wont be one of the first on the road with one

what I would like to know is how you expect them to complete software updates at the docs in the fields where they are parked, with no 12v battery charger, no wifi or hardwired connection

My disappointment is not about not being first on the road! My disappointment is more about the fact that my dealer couldn't tell me that my Cyberster is on a ship, not waiting at Portbury, and not getting my car before the worst of the winter weather sets in up here in the Highlands.

And if you want to know how I expect them to "complete software updates at the docs in the fields where they are parked, with no 12v battery charger, no wifi or hardwired connection", that's really a question for the Commercial Director isn't it? He's the one saying that "there are a number of cars at the docks undergoing software updates which is the normal process". Don't dealers talk to MG UK?

 

[MGDriver]

My disappointment is not about not being first on the road! My disappointment is more about the fact that my dealer couldn't tell me that my Cyberster is on a ship, not waiting at Portbury, and not getting my car before the worst of the winter weather sets in up here in the Highlands.

And if you want to know how I expect them to "complete software updates at the docs in the fields where they are parked, with no 12v battery charger, no wifi or hardwired connection", that's really a question for the Commercial Director isn't it? He's the one saying that "there are a number of cars at the docks undergoing software updates which is the normal process". Don't dealers talk to MG UK?

Yes, because us dealers have not been told whos cars are coming yet,

and yes he may have said there are a number of cars undergoing software updates at the docs, but he did not say they were the Cybersters specifically

 

[leomindel]

An important point that was made either on this thread or on another one.

For other car manufacturers in the past, you used know all the info while the car was being built as they are built to order from the factory.

In this case it feels more like a set of iPhones sitting in boxes in a warehouse. I don't think we will know anything until cars are on preped for the delivery trucks.

 

[Cocijo]

I might be wrong, but I remember reading that the Cyberster was available from only the top (best) selected MG dealerships. In doing so MG are looking to lift the customer experience and brand for what is (for them) an expensive higher-end model.
My biggest issue by far historically, with MG has been their dealerships low standards - has producing these ‘select’ dealers improved this?
Had I ordered a Cyberster, I would certainly expect detailed updates on the car, as I’ve previously received from other prestige brands - e.g. build dates, shipping and delivery tracking etc as a minimum. Proactive customer contact by the dealer, effectively managing the customer experience.

 

[Verdigris]

I might be wrong, but I remember reading that the Cyberster was available from only the top (best) selected MG dealerships.

It (at least partly) depends on the square footage/metre-age of the dealership. Mine got round it by building an extension to join up with their adjacent Skoda dealership.

 

[tarbat]

I might be wrong, but I remember reading that the Cyberster was available from only the top (best) selected MG dealerships. In doing so MG are looking to lift the customer experience and brand for what is (for them) an expensive higher-end model.

3 out of the 4 MG dealers in north Scotland are listed as Cyberster dealers at Find your nearest MG dealer

Weirdly, the one dealer that isn't a Cyberster dealer is the only dealer that has had the showroom tour car at their showroom. Seems a strange decision to send the showroom tour car to the only dealer not selling the Cyberster.

As for whether the Cyberster is built to order, MG UK just told me that "these cars are very much built to order"

 

[GranTurismoEra]

Your exact words were "unfortunately this is a lie".
Anyway, I'm really getting disenchanted with the MG brand if we now have one dealer accusing another of lying.

You have to remember theyre all different groups. Wilson, Glyn Hopkins, WLMG, Bristol Street, etc they all have barely been given any real updates. The port news was given by one of the dealers up north. Im not sure how they found out must be some insider info. Took a while for that to get around.

The software updates rumour was floating around Facebook. Its probably already been done back at the factory as theyve had updates in China over the last 9 months

From a post I posted earlier. SAIC MG have their own ship. Capable of moving 2000-3000+ cars at a time. Given this is a niche vehicle. As someone stated its most likely the first orders plus demos.

Maybe Miles can update us on the total order numbers. It was possible that all the Cybersters are here in one shipment. Its also possible that only first batch orders are here as in earliest orders and people who have high deposits down and have made a selection. Which can still cancel.

There is a shipment meant for Europe next month. Who knows if theyll drop off anymore cars in UK. EU countries are getting their own deliveries next month.

It tallies up that "shortage" is actually correct.

 

[Chongma]

All - deep breath we are all wanting the cars ASAP.

Been waiting over a year for the car, another few months is fine by me. It'll probably be raining / snowing when we finally pick the car up too...

 

[tsedge]

One thing has been consistently clear.

MG UK do not communicate well with either their dealers or end customers. We have had a history of very poor communication (often little or none) across a range of MGs for years.

It is unknown how much this is down to SAIC, but as I see it MG UK is a British organisation with local employees and they could do a far better job of communicating.

People paying Cyberster prices expect a completely different level of service, coming from brands which make them feel special and loved.

If MG UK don't master this, it will limit their sales and affect their reputation. It is entirely different from selling cheap cars at the bottom end of the market.

 

[JohnG123]

Seems like the dealer I ordered my car from now has a car in the showroom.
MG Chorley …
Assume it’s the 24 plate car that’s been doing the rounds.

 

[GranTurismoEra]

No ones asking for Porsche or Rolls Royce treatment. Just pay basic attention to customers and their needs. It shouldn't require people trawling forums and social media to get updates or news. The dealer's should be the first to deliver news.

 

[salty]

Seems like the dealer I ordered my car from now has a car in the showroom.
MG Chorley …
Assume it’s the 24 plate car that’s been doing the rounds.

Ooo, not to far from me, going for a nosey at the weekend. Thanks for that. ??

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Seems like the dealer I ordered my car from now has a car in the showroom.
MG Chorley …
Assume it’s the 24 plate car that’s been doing the rounds.

Looks like it might be the exact same car I saw at Sandycroft a week or 2 ago.
Can't be sure because they stuck "advertising" plates over the actual ones.
If it is, it's the dual-motor GT version.

 

[JohnG123]

Ooo, not to far from me, going for a nosey at the weekend. Thanks for that. ??

? Let me know if you see a yellow GT version round the back ….

 

[tarbat]

I know some if us aren't great fans of the Cyberster name, but it's not as bad as Dacia's new SUV that they're calling the Bigster.