MG says it’s not a ‘pretend British’ brand

MG Motor Australia has said it’s proud of its British beginnings, which date back more than 100 years, but it’s not pretending to be anything other than Chinese.

The MG brand has been revitalised since current owner SAIC Motor acquired it in 2007, expanding its lineup and taking it to more than 100 countries.

It's now a top-10 best-selling brand in both Australia and its birthplace, the United Kingdom.

While MG is now Chinese-owned, its British heritage remains a key part of its identity, with nods to its origins including the Union Jack-inspired tail-lights on the Cyberster electric sports car.

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“There are lots of customers who have a close affinity with the brand – MG has an amazing story and heritage, but we don't want to sit there and pretend ‘oh look, we’re this British firm’ – that’s not us, no,” MG Motor Australia marketing lead Dimitri Andreatidis told CarExpert.

“It's not just [that] we're going to use a British voiceover and stuff – it's not that, no, because we really believe it’s substance and authenticity.

“MG really continues that die-hard, never-give-up spirit, and that's something that we live and breathe, and so it’s inherently MG, the modern brand and its modern interpretation.

“We just want to ensure that it's authentic, and also, we’re proud of being a Chinese manufacturer, and Australians now are becoming more and more open to buying a Chinese-manufactured vehicle, as they should.”

According to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) VFACTS sales figures, Australians bought more Chinese-built vehicles in the first half of 2026 than those from any other country.

Chinese-built vehicles, which include models from brands beyond those owned by Chinese companies, accounted for 29 per cent of all new-vehicle sales between January and June this year, ahead of Japan on 24 per cent.

While best known in Australia for the classic MGB sports car launched in 1962 – an inspiration for the original 1989 Mazda MX-5 – and the subsequent MGF roadster, MG Motor Australia in its current form was established in 2016.

The first Australian dealership owned by the automaker opened in Alexandria, Sydney, in 2019, and its dealer network now approaches 100 outlets.

MG also launched its premium arm, IM, in Australia in 2025 with two electric vehicles (EVs): the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV.

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