MG ZS EV deliveries to Australian customers delayed until late 2022

Deliveries of the refreshed 2022 MG ZS EV will commence in the last quarter of 2022, MG Australia has confirmed, delaying a launch in Australia by three months.

Many Chinese automakers were forced into lockdowns in the first half of 2022. While Tesla was perhaps the most widely covered by Western media, MG’s owner SAIC was also affected by China’s zero-Covid policy.

Originally slated for a launch in July, the 2022 MG ZS EV rankled some potential EV buyers when it decided to skip a long-range option with 77kWh battery and 440km driving range, and raise the price of its base model by $2,000.

The carmaker announced in March that the 2022 MG ZS EV will be offered in two grades, with the Excite grade starting at $46,990 drive-away and the Essence grade starting at $49,990 drive-away, in an effort to offer “both value and luxury” to a growing number of drivers wanting to escape the fuel bowser.

Despite the disappointment evident in comments in our March article linked above, there has still been some appetite for the modest yet relatively affordable compact electric SUV.

According to figures provided to The Driven by MG, there are several hundred drivers awaiting their new MG ZS EVs.

But they will be waiting a few more months, it appears. A spokesperson for MG in Australia told The Driven on Tuesday that, “Production output is improving and customers who have already ordered will receive delivery with their vehicles at staggered intervals throughout Q4.”

Waiting customers have also been contacted by dealers regarding their vehicles, and told they can arrange test drives.

“I just had an update from my dealer,” said one waiting customers. “They will be getting the new ZS EV demo cars to test drive early August. Customer cars should arrive mid-to-late August at least for the first 500 ordered.”

Those first 500 will also get a free wall charger. However, it would seem that dealers are not quite up to date with statements from MG Australia headquarters.

“Would this be Australia wide?” said another. “I am in WA and haven’t heard anything from my dealer yet – I was in the first 500 ordered. Paid the deposit back in February.”