- MG Motor Australia executives confirmed there is a midsize pickup under development.
- It is expected to arrive Down Under before the end of the decade.
- It won’t be the Thai-spec MG Extender, as it will likely be based on another SAIC product.
MG is planning to launch a new midsize pickup truck in Australia, taking advantage of the expertise and available technology from its parent company SAIC. The Ford Ranger rival will arrive within the decade to assist MG in reaching its ambitious sales targets for the region.
MG wants to be among Australia’s top five best-selling brands by the end of 2027 and climb to the top 3 by the end of 2030. Peter Ciao, the CEO of MG Motor Australia, admitted they would “never get the chance to stand on the top three” without a pickup, as this is the dominant segment Down Under.
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MG already has a midsize pickup truck in its portfolio in the form of a rebadged LDV/Maxus T60/T70. The MG Extender was introduced in 2019 and it’s currently available in markets like Thailand, Laos, and Pakistan.
While bringing the MG Extender Down Under sounds like the obvious choice, CarExpert reports that MG has previously ruled out such a move. The company said they were waiting for the “right product” for the market, implying that the LDV/Maxus T60 twin didn’t meet their standards.
MG Extender
This means that MG will likely use another SAIC product as a base for its new truck. A possible contestant is the recently revealed LDV/Maxus Terron 9 which will be launched locally next year with turbodiesel and fully electric (eTerron 9) powertrain options. In any case, the MG-badged pickup is said to adopt its own unique features and won’t be another rebadging exercise.
In terms of powertrains, CarsGuide reports that the MG pickup could be offered in ICE, hybrid, or fully electric options, with the local CEO admitting they have access to all the tech solutions from the parent SAIC Motors.
Giles Belcher, Chief Commercial Officer of MG Motor Australia, said: “We assess many, many parts. Our parent company is huge, different brands, massive product range. We assess everything on its own merits and if we think it suits the Australian market, then we will do our best to get that product.”
Besides the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, the upcoming MG will compete with the Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, VW Amarok, Kia Tasman, GWM Cannon Ute, LDV T60, and JAC T9.
Maxus/LDV eTerron 9
