@Rene you may want to check that😉
I very much did before i wrote. Let me quote directly from the MG website.
“MG is designed with the European motorist in mind; offering sustainable, smart, functional, and affordable vehicles. They’re developed in MG’s design studios in Shanghai in cooperation with the advanced design studio in London, produced in China, and already available in various European countries.”
As i said. They’re developed and designed in China, with input from the Studio you (and indeed, i) mentioned. This is in regards to both MG4 and MG ZS (didn’t check anything else). Further, the design studio in Marylebone isn’t MG, it’s SAIC – here’s the press release.
“The ground-breaking new creative space is the first SAIC Motor studio in the world to specialise in Advanced Digital Design Technology, and will work in conjunction with the automotive manufacturer’s other studios to support future product designs for brands including MG and Roewe. Advanced London is the second SAIC Motor design studio to be established in Europe, following Birmingham which was opened in 2011.”
Also noteworthy to mention that the Global Design Director is a chap called Shao Jingfeng.
Wikipedia says:
“MG vehicles are designed and developed by SAIC, and manufacturing mainly takes place at SAIC’s plants in China.”
“MG vehicles became available in the rest of Europe since late 2019 with the release of the ZS EV in the region. SAIC Motor established operations based in Amsterdam, Netherlands to oversee sales activities in the region.”
That said: the Cyberster is indeed designed in the UK, but that’s not (and won’t be) available to us. Their “bread and butter models” are predominantly designed in China, with input from the UK Studio.
“MG Motor cars were once engineered by SAIC at the Longbridge facility in Birmingham, UK. Longbridge was formerly home to Austin, British Leyland, Rover Group and, later, the MG Rover Group. Currently, most of the design, development and R&D takes place in China by SAIC Motor R&D Innovation Headquarters (SRIH).”
“SAIC reduced its presence in Longbridge in 2019 with the large Technical Centre downsized to 20 staff and moved to London. The facility used to host a design studio, before moving to London.
SAIC Design Advanced London in London, UK at Marylebone Road succeeded the Longbridge design studio. Led by Carl Gotham and Robert Lemmens with 20 employees, the studio conducted some key design work for MG vehicles and works in conjunction with the automotive manufacturer’s other studios to support future product designs for brands including MG, Roewe and Rising Auto.”
Marylebone btw is literally called SAIC Design Studios.
As for headquarters, there’s nothing in London. There’s a few references to “Headquarters” in Longbridge, but that’s for MG UK, not MG Europe or MG International. Of course they have a branch office in the UK (MG MOTOR UK LTD), the same way Chevrolet has a branch office in the UK. That doesn’t mean that their headquarters are located in the UK – that would be Zurich.
Not that it all particularly matters, as i mentioned, i personally think that MGs are considerably better now than they were under actual british ownership. I don’t see anything wrong in particular with that, either, to be honest. But that’s all quite off topic, none of the MG offerings would beat a 2series, A3 or even A1 in anything other than price, and apparently that part doesn’t matter as much to the guy. Would add a thumbs up smiley here, but no idea how lol.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.