MG Motor announced its upcoming compact EV, called ‘Comet’ in India. This is also the first time MG has revealed an India-specific model that is based on sister brand Wuling’s Air EV, and sold in markets such as Indonesia.
In August 2021, Autocar India was the first to exclusively report on MG’s plans to launch this urban electric runabout in India.
As for the name, MG says it’s inspired by the famous 1934 British aircraft that competed in the England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race — keeping its tradition of aircraft-derived names alive. MGK’s Hector and Gloucester SUVs are also named after British World War II-era aircraft.
The Comet will be unlike any other hatchback in India, measuring 2.9 meters in length, the three-door, four-seater Comet will be the smallest four-wheeler to be sold in India. However, it won’t be that tight on space, as thanks to its electric skateboard architecture, relatively long 2,010 mm wheelbase, and boxy shape, interior packaging will be efficient for plenty of space.
The Indian-spec Comet EV looks identical to the one sold in Indonesia. It gets a two-tone finish for the front fascia, a long and solid nose, and a wraparound strip below the windscreen with LED lighting elements that terminate in the wing mirrors. In profile, small wheels pushed to the edges and an asymmetrical window line with a dual-tone paint finish are what stand out, while the rear is designed to mimic the front fascia.
Its compact dimensions might suggest that it will be positioned as a budget vehicle, but it will be quite the opposite. We expect it to be priced above ₹ 10 lakh (ex-showroom), positioned as a premium intra-city runabout, for which MG will certainly not skimp on features.
Although MG has yet to reveal interior images, we expect the biggest talking point to be the dual-screen infotainment setup with two 10.25-inch screens, similar to the XUV700 or even some Mercedes models. Other premium features like connected car tech, dual-tone interiors with standard materials, voice commands, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also expected. There may even be a sunroof.
The Comet EV is expected to be powered by a battery of around 20-25kWh capacity, which will be sourced locally from Tata AutoComp, giving the Comet EV a driving range of up to 300km, possibly similar to MG’s ZS. Must be certified by iCAT. The EV Comet is expected to be powered by a single, front-axle motor with a power output of around 50kW (68hp).
The Comet is expected to hit the market in mid-2023 and at launch, it will compete with the likes of the Tata Tiago EV (₹8.69 lakh to ₹11.99 lakh) and the recently launched Citroen eC3 (₹11.50 lakh to ₹12.43 lakh). There will be competition. ) in the electric hatchback segment. The MG Comet EV will be assembled in India and MG plans to give it more than 60% localization to make it more competitive.
