MG Motors kick-starts pre-booking for its first CKD model in Pakistan

MG Motors Pakistan has initiated pre-bookings for its 1.5L Turbo Engine MG HS Essence after acquiring the manufacturing licence.

MG Motors General Manager Syed Asif Ahmed confirmed the development and told Geo.tv that the vehicles will be delivered in January 2023.

Previously, the company relied on the import of completely-built units (CBUs) to sell its vehicles in Pakistan, however, now under SRO-656 the automaker can also export locally manufactured vehicles.

Ahmed revealed that this development will help make Pakistan an export-based automotive industry.

It was learnt that the local price of completely knocked down (CKD) MG HS Essence amounts to Rs6.89 million while the previously sold CBU was around Rs8.9 million.

The sports utility vehicle (SUV) has an enhanced warranty of five years or 150,000km, whichever comes first. For CBUs, it was four years or 100,000km.

"We are committed to global safety specs in local production," the official said.

Commenting on the response from the public, he said: "MG HS Essence was long awaited by the consumers. The interior comfort and colour options are the most liked feature of MG."

The brand entered the Pakistani market under the flag of SAIC Motor International, primarily launching in the luxury category. The first HS CKD variant line-off was held in May 2021.

The company was launched in January 2021. Meanwhile, MG JW Automobile Pakistan is a joint venture between Saic Motor International (Smil), a subsidiary of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), and JW SEZ Group.