Royaume-Uni / Chine
MG
MG is an automaker of British origin, founded in 1924 in Oxford, England. The name comes from the initials of Morris Garages, the automobile sales and service business of William Morris, whose manager, Cecil Kimber, began modifying production Morris cars to make them sportier. The famous MG octagon was registered as a trademark in May 1924. Over the decades, MG built a reputation as a maker of affordable little sports cars, notably thanks to the T-type models of the 1930s and 1940s, then the MGA and above all the MGB, produced at the Abingdon plant from 1962 to 1980 and exported massively to the United States. The end of production at Abingdon in 1980 marked the end of an era for MG roadsters. The brand then passed through several owners within the British industry: British Motor Corporation, British Leyland, Rover Group, then MG Rover Group. In 2005, after the collapse of MG Rover under the weight of its debts, the brand was acquired by the Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) for around fifty million pounds. In December 2007, SAIC Motor, a large state-owned Chinese automotive group based in Shanghai, took control of the brand by absorbing Nanjing. Under SAIC ownership, MG transformed into a global brand produced mainly in China, with a technical center retained at Longbridge in the United Kingdom (British production ceased in 2016). In 2011, the MG6 was the first all-new model in sixteen years. Since 2019-2020, MG has experienced strong growth, particularly in Europe and Australia, by betting on affordable vehicles and an expanded electric lineup. In North America, MG is not marketed: the brand is absent from the Canadian and U.S. markets, where it is known only for its classic roadsters imported in the previous century.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybrideEuropéennes
History
History of MG
MG is an automaker of British origin, founded in 1924 in Oxford, England. The name comes from the initials of Morris Garages, the automobile sales and service business of William Morris, whose manager, Cecil Kimber, began modifying production Morris cars to make them sportier. The famous MG octagon was registered as a trademark in May 1924. Over the decades, MG built a reputation as a maker of affordable little sports cars, notably thanks to the T-type models of the 1930s and 1940s, then the MGA and above all the MGB, produced at the Abingdon plant from 1962 to 1980 and exported massively to the United States. The end of production at Abingdon in 1980 marked the end of an era for MG roadsters. The brand then passed through several owners within the British industry: British Motor Corporation, British Leyland, Rover Group, then MG Rover Group. In 2005, after the collapse of MG Rover under the weight of its debts, the brand was acquired by the Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) for around fifty million pounds. In December 2007, SAIC Motor, a large state-owned Chinese automotive group based in Shanghai, took control of the brand by absorbing Nanjing. Under SAIC ownership, MG transformed into a global brand produced mainly in China, with a technical center retained at Longbridge in the United Kingdom (British production ceased in 2016). In 2011, the MG6 was the first all-new model in sixteen years. Since 2019-2020, MG has experienced strong growth, particularly in Europe and Australia, by betting on affordable vehicles and an expanded electric lineup. In North America, MG is not marketed: the brand is absent from the Canadian and U.S. markets, where it is known only for its classic roadsters imported in the previous century.
Public founding or origin of MG.
Cyberster: launch or first listed period.
MG ZS: launch or first listed period.
MG4: launch or first listed period.
MGB: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Under SAIC, MG is betting heavily on electrification. Recent models are built on the dedicated MSP (Modular Scalable Platform), designed specifically for electric vehicles with a rear-wheel-drive architecture as standard, as on the MG4. Batteries vary by market and model: LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistries for entry-level versions and NMC for long-range versions, using SAIC's in-house battery technology. The lineup also includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains (such as the ZS Hybrid+) in addition to traditional gasoline engines. MG equips its vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), large touchscreens, and modern infotainment (Qualcomm Snapdragon chips on some models). The brand is aiming for an all-electric lineup in the long term.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A British-born brand, now Chinese-owned, betting on affordable and electrified vehicles, absent from the North American market.
Reputation
Long associated with charming but sometimes temperamental British roadsters, MG has repositioned itself under SAIC as a value-for-money brand. The brand was one of the fastest-growing in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia in the early 2020s, and has received press awards (Best Manufacturer at the 2025 Autocar Awards, a favorable reception for the MG4). Perception remains mixed: excellent equipment-to-price ratio, but an affordable rather than premium positioning, and a commercially British identity despite Chinese ownership and manufacturing. Since MG is absent from North America, resale value is not a benchmark there, except for collectible classics.
Strengths
MG combines a recognized British sporting heritage with the industrial resources of a large global group, allowing it to offer very well-equipped vehicles at competitive prices. The brand offers an extensive and accessible electric lineup, a dedicated EV platform, generous warranties in some markets, and a design that is modernizing rapidly, from the Cyberster roadster to the electric compacts.
Points to watch
MG is absent from North America, which complicates access to parts, service, and support for a Canadian buyer. The British identity put forward contrasts with Chinese ownership and manufacturing, which can hurt perception. The brand is still perceived as affordable rather than premium, and the reliability track record of recent models remains shorter than that of established automakers.
Models
MG models
Current or active models by market
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
MG's production is today predominantly Chinese, at SAIC's plants in Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, and Ningde. The brand also operates a plant in Thailand (Chonburi, a joint venture) and a site in India (Halol, in Gujarat, taken over from General Motors), as well as assembly in Indonesia. The historic Longbridge site in the United Kingdom now serves only as a technical center since British production ended in 2016; the iconic Abingdon plant, which produced the MGBs, closed in 1980. MG has no plant or manufacturing presence in North America, since the brand is not marketed there.
Tires and wheels
Since MG is not sold in Quebec, these vehicles are rare here, but the classics (MGB) remain sought after. Vintage MGBs use small 14-inch wheels and narrow tires, sometimes with wire wheels. Modern models (ZS, MG4) typically use 16- to 18-inch alloy wheels with mid-profile tires, and a 5-bolt pattern common on contemporary compacts and SUVs. For any vehicle driven in winter in Quebec, winter tires are mandatory from December to March; a set of winter tires mounted on dedicated wheels of a smaller diameter is recommended.