MG ZS EV to launch on January 23

MG is all set to launch its first all-electric model for our market, the ZS EV, on January 23, 2020. The company has preponed its market launch which was earlier slated to take place on January 27. 

The ZS EV is MG’s second product for India, with the first being the popular Hector SUV. Bookings for the electric SUV are already underway via MG’s website and at select dealerships for a booking amount of Rs 50,000.

Powering the ZS EV will be an electric motor capable of producing 143hp and 353Nm of torque which will send the power to the front wheels via a single-speed automatic gearbox. The battery will be a 44.5kWh liquid-cooled battery pack which, according to MG, will be good for a range of 340km.

As with the Hector, MG will pack the ZS EV has a vast array of features which will include automatic projector headlamps with LED DRLs, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, keyless entry/go, a tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels and an electronic parking brake as standard. Over and above these features, the top-spec model will come with a panoramic sunroof, leatherette seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a PM 2.5 filter in the cabin and rain-sensing wipers.

The e-SUV will be offered in two variants – Excite and Exclusive – both of which will get safety features like ABS with EBD, ESC, six airbags, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, a rear parking camera and rear sensors as standard.

On the charging front, MG has set up 50kW DC fast chargers at select dealerships that can power up the battery of the ZS EV from 0-80 percent in 50min. The carmaker will install a 7.4kW AC charger (which can give a full charge in 6-8hr) at its customer's home/office. MG will even providing a portable charging cable with the ZS EV, which can be used with any 15A electrical socket, making charging slightly more accessible in emergency situations.

MG will offer the e-SUV in five cities across India – Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Once launched, we expect the ZS EV to be priced from Rs 22 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom, pan-India) onwards, and will compete with the Hyundai Kona Electric in the Indian market.