MG Australia focused on new models, customers and dealers – not its sales slide

MG Motor Australia says it's not focused on its sales figures despite being usurped as the top-selling Chinese brand by BYD, GWM and Chery, and as it teeters on the edge of Australia's top 10 best-selling brands.

To the end of May 2026, MG sold 18,145 vehicles in Australia, a year-on-year gain of 2.1 per cent – yet down on its best result to the same point in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and its lowest January-to-May result in five years.

Using data from CarExpert Atlas, MG sold 20,769 vehicles over the same period in 2022, its best result, achieved with only three models: its best-selling ZS, HS mid-size SUV and MG 3 small hatchback.

That year, MG reached its highest position on the local sales ladder, finishing seventh. It was also the top Chinese brand, with BYD having arrived here just a few months earlier, while GWM was 15th.

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In comparison, its 18,145 sales for the first five months of 2026 came from 12 different nameplates, including two electric models from its Tesla-rivalling IM Motors sub-brand launched here last year. The ZS was still its most popular model, however.

This left MG in 10th place overall, behind Chery (20,459 sales) and ahead of Isuzu Ute (16,263).

“The market has changed, hasn’t it?” MG Motor Australia and New Zealand marketing lead Dimitri Andreatidis told CarExpert when asked about the sales performance.

“We've had a significant influx of competitors across all levels, and that’s healthy for the industry because it’s healthy competition, it’s great competition.

“Yes, we have a broad product category – that’s true, it’s quite extensive, absolutely. We just want to ensure that we’re reinforcing what our brand stands for, and what contribution each of those particular products make.”

Mr Andreatidis said MG’s lower sales numbers aren't something the brand is concerned about.

“From our perspective, we’re focused on ensuring that we are bolstering our dealer network as much as possible. We want to ensure that they’ve got all the resources they need to provide the best possible customer experience, and we will continue to build our product portfolio," he said.

This may include the yet-to-be-confirmed city car, believed to be badged MG 2, which is scheduled to be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK later this month.

Having added the MG 4 Urban EV electric hatch and MG S6 EV SUV, MG will also launch an electric version of the MG U9 dual-cab ute in local showrooms later this year.

Rival BYD became the first Chinese brand to crack Australia's top five in July 2025, before finishing second in April 2026 – a feat it repeated the following month, again behind only Toyota. Its performance was fuelled in large part by its expansive lineup of electric vehicles (EVs).

EVs reached a record 19.9 per cent market share in Australia in May 2026, with the Tesla Model Y the best-selling vehicle across all fuel types.

Despite Tesla being an American brand, the Model Y sold in Australia is made in Shanghai, with 34.8 per cent of all new vehicles sold here in May 2026 coming from China.

The MG Motor marketing boss was speaking as the brand announced pricing and specifications for its new MG U9 Black Edition dual-cab ute, which brings cosmetic and equipment upgrades, including all-terrain tyres and Towing Cruise Control.

“Black Edition is a perfect example of that [focus], and if, when, as we continue to bolster that, and we reinforce that, the sales will come.”

The MG brand hasn't changed what it stands for since returning to Australia, Mr Andreatidis added.

“We’re driven by passion. We’ve been in Australia for 10 years, we’re a 100-year-young brand, and our focus is on delivering the best for our dealers, and for our, and for our customers, that hasn't changed, and it won't ever change," he explained.

“What we want to do now is just ensure that we can deliver the best possible product with a value for money proposition that appeals to our customers, and we want them to be advocates of our brand.”

“Our focus is just ensuring that we’re cementing our relative positions now in what the product offerings that we currently have, and we want to ensure that we can optimise that to the best of our ability.”

MORE: Explore the MG showroom