Crucial MG3 supermini to allow MG Motor UK dealer network to grow

By Tim Rose
|
6 September 2013

MG Motor UK has a dozen new dealers waiting in the wings to open sales points following the launch this month of the MG3 supermini.

The new car brand has a network of 30 existing franchisees, most operating multi-franchised locations such as Toomey in Basildon, who'll get their first MG3 demonstration cars on Monday, September 9.

However, it wants a much larger sales and service network in the long term as its product range broadens.

The MG3 has been designed by the SAIC Design Centre in the UK and is being built in Longbridge, Birmingham, from kits shipped over from China.

Sharing the same market segment as the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Kia Rio, the 105bhp MG3 has been positioned to undercut its rivals considerably, with prices starting at £8,399 and rising to £9,995.

MG Motor UK sales and marketing director Guy Jones said first full year MG3 sales are expected to be 1,730 units, rising to 2,630 in the second year. It will be incremental sales to the MG6 model line, he said.

"The MG3 enables us to get going with our dealer network, we now have enough products to get dealers to join the franchise. We've been talking to them for two years but previously there wasn't a really profitable business case for them," Jones added.

Richard Hales, MG Motor UK regional operations manager, said every franchise applicant is visited by MG Motor UK managing director William Wang to discuss the long-term opportunities.

The MG3 is heavily biased towards retail customers, and an online configurator is being launched to ensure prospects can explore all the customisation and graphics options available.

MG Motor UK

Author: Tim Rose

Editor

tim.rose@bauermedia.co.uk

01733468266

As editor, Tim is responsible for the media content, planning and production of AM's multiple channels (AM print and digital magazines, website, social media and contributing to our events planning). He interviews and writes about as many franchised dealer groups and UK divisions of motor manufacturers as possible, to explore the issues facing UK motor retail and understand what solutions dealers and suppliers are using to overcome these.

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Jeffs - 09/09/2013 20:13

Having been on a factory tour where I saw the new MG3 in the showroom I have to say how impressed I was with the quality and finish of this model.
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- Mh - 05/10/2013 14:54
  
  @Ling Valentine - what a load of crap.
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- D J Porter - 23/11/2013 05:09
  
  @Mh -
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- D J Porter - 23/11/2013 05:16
  
  Have you driven one in order to reach your conclusion that the MG3 is crap? If not, please take test drive and then decide!
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Ling Valentine - 10/09/2013 08:06

Where is the journalism? The management of MG Motor has allowed the brand to die in the UK. They are inept and often can only manage 20 car registrations in a month (probably MG company cars). Dealers are useless, selling half a car each, per month. What few buyers there are have been shafted by initial dumping of cars with Avis, and then by management playing BTCC while sales died. Residuals stink. MG Motor are losing £millions in the UK. It's simply an exercise in having a UK "factory" where one person could do all the monthly "assembly", so they can advertise the cars in China, as "British". The cars are, in fact, Chinese and MG Motor should be proud of that fact. Instead, the UK marketing is a lie, disingenuous and untruthful. How to ruin a great brand, in one easy lesson. Embarrassing. Who ARE the managers, when you strip away the failed (LDV, MG Rover) British PR operatives? Ling
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