MG Australia slashes MG4 price

[FrancisM]

I would be surprised if a Chinese government owned car builder, which SAIC (the MG builder is), was building anything in Taiwan (their arch enemy). Taiwan is only a hundred kilometres from mainland China anyway. This argument that shipping costs have anything to do with a 25% reduction in Sale price is not logical, as shipping costs are the same for all the vehicles loaded onto a SAIC transporter, which means LDV, etc. Whatever pricing strategy is used in the UK is probably more likely based on what they think they can sell it for, and competition in that segment.

So why do you think there's a 25% discount? It's aimed at selling off old stock. Maybe old stock will get written off once 2 years old otherwise.

 

[wattmatters]

So why do you think there's a 25% discount? It's aimed at selling off old stock. Maybe old stock will get written off once 2 years old otherwise.

MG Australia's sales have not met their parent's expectations and so they need to clear stock. It's a bold move, will annoy a lot of recent customers while a whole bunch get to pick up a bargain.

But it will make for an interesting data point for marketers on what the price point needs to be here for sales to climb. EV sales here have been static for a year.

 

[Coulomb]

The other big thing is that (at least at this dealership), the $8000 factory bonus only applies to 2023 models; 2024 models (same car, according to the salesman) only get a $5000 reduction.

Looking at CarSales.com.au, I get the feeling that any discounts for models other than the 51 Excite (i.e. the ones with the Factory Bonuses) are dealership dependent.

I was looking for a MY23 to check specifications, and saw prices well over AU$50 000. Eww ?

 

[pfaus]

I’ve just ordered an Essence 64 for A$39300. It is an MY23 model but very happy with the price. Just lucky I was shopping this week instead of a fortnight ago.
BTW, we don’t spray incoming tourists with fly spray any more, we have other ways of discouraging people from coming to Oz….

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I’ve just ordered an Essence 64 for A$39300. It is an MY23 model but very happy with the price. Just lucky I was shopping this week instead of a fortnight ago.
BTW, we don’t spray incoming tourists with fly spray any more, we have other ways of discouraging people from coming to Oz….

I'd love to pop over but you couldn't pay me enough to sit in the tube of farts for the length of time it takes to get there!

I do wish Elon would stop faffing about with space and build a Hypersonic Airliner.

Aus in 4 hours?

That's more like it. ?

 

[Corindikev]

A year ago I paid $50,400.00 on the road for my Essence 64 so saving 11k is a really good deal even though it is a MY23. The MY24 is identical anyway so it's just a number.

I bought mine for the long haul & have had the pleasure of ownership & driving for free for a year so I have no complaints. Every new car I have bought is worth about 10k less as soon as I drive it off the showroom floor.

It is the same with lots of tech stuff. Look at how the price of big screen TVs has dropped. You buy the earliest latest stuff, pay the most and suffer all the bugs. That's just the way it is.

 

[wattmatters]

I'm with you Kev. Indeed yesterday was our first full year. Some stats:

Cost of solar PV and grid charging has dropped a lot in the last six months with changes in retail electricity options. Charging from home is now stupid cheap (less than 25c/100km), the above reflects the full year costs.

Charging when travelling varies. Highway fast chargers cost a little less than buying fuel for our previous car. Destination charging can be much cheaper but depends on a charge station or convenient power outlet being available.

 

[glend14]

I had a conversation today with a sales guy at a large Sydney MG dealership. He advised that the only colour they could get was black, black, or black, for this MG4 51kWh Special Offer. Everything else is already gone. He also said there was another ship docking on the 21st of October, and any colour would be onboard; however, the Special Offer driveway pricing is based on taking delivery from your dealer by close of business on the 31st of October (unless closed earlier). The problem this represents, is any little delay, like with Aus Quarantine processing, transport from the dock to the dealers, etc can screw your access to the Special Offer. It's a risk, and people maybe counting on it working in their favour, and you would be guaranteed a 2024 build date (likely a July Build). This risk maybe only workable if you're living in Melbourne or Sydney, given the transport delays out to other cities and towns. The sales guy said they had been inundated with buyers in the past week, and all 2023 and early 2024 stock was spoken for and deposits taken (other than the 3 black ones he had).

 

[wattmatters]

Plenty of colour options across NSW:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/new/mg/mg4/new-south-wales-state/?sort=~Price

 

[MGDriver]

So why do you think there's a 25% discount? It's aimed at selling off old stock. Maybe old stock will get written off once 2 years old otherwise.

The discounts we have on the existing stock is actually to clear them before the MY24 models get announced with whatever improvements and updates they will have

 

[domwild]

About six weeks ago the BYD Dolphin, MG4 51 Excite and Nissan Leaf all cost AUS$40k each. The BYD had a one month waiting time then, now three to four and cost has gone up to AUS$46k for 2024 model, BYD Atto 3 to AUS$48k.

Have not bothered asking for a 2024 price of Leaf as it had 100km less in range (270km) compared to my 2024 MG4 51 370km range plus a Level 1 "granny charger" for home charging will cost you an extra $500!

A 2024 MG4 51 will now cost AUS$1k more at $41k and ten year warranty 250,000km, BUT run-out 2023 Excites are selling at $31k with a seven year unlimited km warranty, but only until sold out until September 2024. In Western Australia you can still get a AUS$3,500 discount from the gov. for this "Emission-free EV .... ", so the MG then only costs a mere AUS$27.5k!!

 

[wattmatters]

BUT run-out 2023 Excites are selling at $31k with a seven year unlimited km warranty, but only until sold out until September 2024.

Any new MG4, including any MY23 models, sold after 1 Aug 2024 gets the 10 year / 250,000 km warranty.

A 2024 MG4 51 will now cost AUS$1k more at $41k

MY24 models are also being sold with the discount. Dozens and dozens of them on carsales.

 

[Coulomb]

Have not bothered asking for a 2024 price of Leaf as it had 100km less in range (270km) compared to my 2024 MG4 51 370km range plus a Level 1 "granny charger" for home charging will cost you an extra $500!

Level 1 usually refers to 120V charging (a North American thing), and Level 2 to 240V charging, at any current limit. I would think that the Leaf still comes with a granny charger (limited to 8A or 10A AC), and that the $500 is for a 7kW EVSE. If that includes installation in an easy configuration (not needing extra long cabling, house switchboard is adequate), then that's actually great value.

In my view, the Leaf disqualifies itself by having only passive battery cooling, making it unsuitable for long distance driving (Rapidgate). As a city runabout, it's fine. It's a shame, as the Leaf is otherwise an excellent vehicle. We're likely about to trade in our 2012 (for peanuts), but still love it. We're ready for more country driving now, so we're strongly considering an MG4 long range. The higher spec MG4s are also being run out, albeit with less spectacular discounts (factory bonuses). Stock of these in practical colours is also running low, although not as quickly as the MG4 51 Excite, for obvious reasons.

 

[glend14]

I spoke to another dealer this morning, and he confirmed what I was told yesterday: that there are no more MG4 51kWh Special Offer stock in Australia, with exception of a few places held by a few dealers. A couple of important points:
1. These Special Offer models are all 2023 Build Date MG4s.
2. The ship bringing in the next batch for 21 October arrival, is 2024 build date cars and will likely have a higher price than the 2023 run-out Special Offer models.
3. Most dealers now have a wait list of interested buyers, thanks to the Special Offer promotion.
4. Advertising placed on Carsales was likely placed at the start of the Special Offer and are no longer correct in implying that colour choice is available. At this point it's just click bait to get customers to call, and get them on the call back list when new 2024 stock arrives.
5. Sales people will try to up sell prospects to the 64kWh version, which are still available (and now available at $40,990 in NSW). Likely these are 2023 models as well.
That's all I have for now.

 

[Corindikev]

Car sales have always advertised cars for a special price & when you make an enquiry they will come back with "Sorry that one has just been sold but we have another similar one with extra this & that for only 10k more".

 

[wattmatters]

I spoke to another dealer this morning, and he confirmed what I was told yesterday: that there are no more MG4 51kw Special Offer stock in Australia,

Sounds like the offer worked, maybe a little too well!

Car sales have always advertised cars for a special price & when you make an enquiry they will come back with "Sorry that one has just been sold but we have another similar one with extra this & that for only 10k more".