Plugged in for value
Driveway prices for new MG ZS EV means “best value” in New Zealand, says marque.
MG Motor New Zealand has staged the official debut of its new ZS EV on Kiwi shores.
At launch, it will maintain its status as the “best-value new electric vehicle [EV] available on the market”, with the entry-level Excite priced at $49,990 driveaway while the premium Essence variant starts at $53,990.
Peter Ciao, chef executive of at MG Motor Australia and New Zealand, says the ZS EV, pictured above, sets a new standard for electric cars and demonstrates MG’s commitment to making them accessible.
“This past year has been incredible for MG,” says Ciao. “In 2021, sales of EVs broke records and MG’s 2021 ZS EV was part of this paradigm shift.
“However, we would not have achieved this success without the support of our customers. We’re honoured to see New Zealanders embracing the brand and ZS EV with such enthusiasm.
“Our seven-year warranty is comprehensive across ICE, electric and batteries with no hidden exclusions. Every dealership is trained to sell and service all our products.
“We’ve been successful in offering the New Zealand market unparalleled value and we’re now entering a new phase of our growth with the ZS EV. This is the first step in our new journey to an electric
future that’s here today.
“While value will remain at the core of our product offering, value means different things to different people, and we want to deliver that value to as many people as we can.”
MG is also working on a new corporate identity that ties in with its “broader growth strategies that are purpose-led, customer-centric, experience-driven, data-enabled and technology-scaled”.
Ciao, pictured below, adds: “This transformation of culture, operations and outcomes is a big part of our future DNA. It begins with a broader consideration of the role MG has in the lives of our customers.
“Part of this is a new premium look and feel that complements each vehicle that will be showcased in a way that speaks to expectations of our existing and new customer base.”
The new 2022 ZS EV features an exterior makeover complemented by new battery technology for a superior range of 320km measured on the WLTP cycle – up from 263km of the 2021 model.
New on-board charging capabilities means up to 80 per cent charging time in as little as 54 minutes based on a 50kW combined charging system.
A revised front fascia pronounces the SUV’s electric intentions while retaining the front-mounted charging port. LED lighting clusters front and rear add striking touches to the mid-sized model.
It also offers buyers its own app-based software architecture, known as iSmart, which is backed by Amazon’s AWS cloud-based system.
This mean that owners can perform over-the-air updates, have remote air-conditioning control and door locking, real-time navigation, and access the ‘find my car’ parking-lot search, live weather updates and stream audio from Amazon Music.
In New Zealand, MG now has dealerships in Napier, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Hamilton, Southland, Nelson, Wellington, Whangarei, Dunedin, Hawera and New Plymouth. In the Auckland region, they can be found in Pukekohe, Greenlane and Wairau Valley on the North Shore.
