MG wants to mirror its current range with similarly-sized electric vehicles by 2023.
In addition to the ZS EV introduced late last year, MG is looking to introduce a mid-sized electric SUV and a small electric hatchback.
Australian executives wouldn’t be drawn, however, on plans for a local introduction for the production E-Motion EV grand tourer or the recently-revealed Cyberster EV roadster.
Instead, the company says the ES33 debuting in concept form at the 2021 Shanghai motor show this month points to what we can expect in Australia.
It’s said to have an electric range of around 500km, almost twice as much as the 263km figure cited for the ZS EV.
The ES33 has been previewed wearing R Auto branding, a new Chinese-market brand in the sprawling SAIC Motor stable that also includes MG and LDV.
It’s set to enter production in 2022 and will debut a new platform referred to as the R-TECH.
Chinese outlet Gasgoo reports the ES33 will feature replaceable and upgradeable hardware, including its battery, while it’ll also include an array of sensors including laser radars and 4D imaging radars.
It’ll also use Lidar technology developed by US company Luminar, plus 5G-V2X technology.
The ES33 slots about the recently revealed, tri-motor Marvel R in SAIC’s stable of R electric vehicles.
The EV hatch hasn’t been locked in for Australia and has yet to be revealed, and is being targeted at the European market.
Autocar reports it’ll be launched in Europe at the end of 2021 and will be sized similarly to, and sold alongside, the MG 3.
It could use a lower-capacity battery than the ZS EV’s 44.5kWh unit to reduce cost and maximise space efficiency, though an electric range of at least 240km is still a possibility.
MG 3 
MG ZS EV
The introduction of an electric hatch will give MG a likely more affordable alternative to the likes of the Honda E and Mini Electric, plus a direct rival to the Renault Zoe overseas.
Only the Mini Electric is sold here, with the Zoe axed by Renault Australia last year.
The hatchback would likely be even cheaper than the ZS EV, which at $43,990 drive-away is currently Australia’s cheapest all-electric vehicle.
