MG Motor India has said that it is aiming to deliver the first batch of 5,000 units of Astor in 2021, despite the industry-wide semiconductor crisis. It has also offered protection from price hike to this first batch of customers, in case of any delays.
- MG aiming for first batch of 5,000 Astor deliveries in 2021
- First batch customers will be protected from price hike, even if there’s a delay
- Subsequent buyers to shell out more than the Rs 9.78-17.38 lakh launch price
The MG Astor was launched in October at an introductory price of Rs 9.78 lakh-17.38 lakh (ex-showroom, India). In an official statement on the Astor’s delivery schedule, Gaurav Gupta, chief commercial officer, MG Motor India, said, “We are working to delivering our first batch of 5,000 cars in this calendar year. But just in case there’s a spillover to next year, I can assure that all the batch 1 customers will be protected at the launch price.”
MG Astor price and delivery schedule
MG started accepting bookings for the Astor from October 21, 2021 and soon reported that it had sold out its first batch of 5,000 cars. Subsequent orders, which will be fulfilled only in 2022, are set to carry a price tag higher than the launch price. This also overlaps with the customary, industry-wide practice of bumping up the prices at the beginning of the year. However, as per the company’s statement, the first batch of Astor customers will remain unaffected.
Commenting on the havoc that chip shortage is wreaking on production plans, Gupta said, “We are all facing a situation which is unprecedented. The supply of chips and semiconductors is very uncertain and dynamic. In fact, sometimes, our suppliers have a weekly schedule which also gets altered. And that makes us change our production plans.”
Furthermore, higher demand for certain variants has also contributed to the company’s woes. “We have also seen a very high demand for certain variants, which is different from our original plan. But we have recalibrated our entire work at the backend to be able to support our customer base,” said Gupta.
He continued, “You can see your delivery schedule on the MyMG app, our website, by calling us or even at our dealerships. But sometimes, frankly, our dealerships would also struggle because the changes at the backend impact their commitment to you.”
However, he ended on a positive note, saying, “We do feel that the worst is behind us and things should improve as we proceed further.”
MG Astor variants, features
The Astor line-up consists of five variants – Style, Super, Smart, Sharp and Savvy. The high-spec Sharp variant offers bells and whistles like a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, electric parking brake, tyre pressure monitor, 360-degree camera, heated wing mirrors and a panoramic sunroof.
The range topping Savvy trim adds ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) functions, including Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist and more.
MG Astor engine-gearbox options
The Astor is offered with two petrol engines – a 110hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated motor and a 140hp, 1.3-litre turbocharged mill. The former gets a choice of 5-speed manual and 8-step CVT automatic transmissions, while the more powerful engine gets a sole 6-speed automatic gearbox.
MG Astor rivals
The Astor contends in the midsize SUV segment which has started heating up the new competition, with the arrival of the VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. Other noteworthy rivals include the popular Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, and then there are models like the Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster and Maruti Suzuki S-Cross that are also in the mix.
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