MG will launch two EVs in Europe next year

MG Motor will launch two new full-electric cars in Europe including a "flagship" SUV next year as the Chinese-owned brand uses electrification to push into more markets across the region.

The success of the ZS small electric SUV has seen MG's European vehicle sales increase 112 percent to 21,672 units in the first 10 months, according to data from JATO Dynamics market researchers, despite the brand selling in just a handful of markets, including the UK and Norway.

MG Europe added the Netherlands and France this year and will include Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal from early next year along with other markets, the company's European CEO, Matt Lei, confirmed in an online presentation on Dec. 7.

MG, owned by China's SAIC, has recently began sales of the MG5 electric compact station wagon and is now launching sales of the EHS plug-in hybrid compact SUV, which will start from 34,000 euros ($41,287).

Next year, the brand will introduce a new flagship electric SUV as well another electric model, Lei said. "After launching the ZS EV and ESH plug-in hybrid, we are carefully building up our portfolio in Europe," he said.

MG showed the two cars under covers in the Dec. 7 presentation.

The flagship SUV "shows what the brand is capable of, not only in terms technology and performance, but also design," Lei said.

The car is expected to be an MG version of the Marvel X midsize SUV from MG's sister brand in China, Roewe.

The Marvel X is available with all-wheel drive which features two motors to give it acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds, Roewe said on its website. The model has a 52-kilowatt hours battery and a range of 370 km (229 miles) under the NEDC testing system, although European models could have a bigger battery.

A rear-wheel-drive version has a longer range of 403 km.

The second electric car is smaller and lower, and looked like a high-riding station wagon under its cover.

Lei indicated it had no rival at the moment. "The lower one is unique in its segment and shows that ease of use, efficiency and zero emission mobility go well together," he said. "We will be active in electric cars in segments that competitors have not even explored."

MG is SAIC's preferred export brand, with Roewe is its flagship brand for China. The ZS EV is the only full-electric car MG sells in China.