MG's $15k EV finds a market outside of China – Guess where

The MG and General Motors’ electric micro car has launched outside of China, straight into India, with a cheap INR₹798,000 (AU$14,700) price tag.

The MG Comet is sold in India as a rebadged version of the Wuling Air EV from China, produced under the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture.

Measuring in at 2974mm long, 1505mm wide, and 1640mm tall with a 2010mm wheelbase, the four-seater EV is smaller than a Kia Picanto in every dimension except for height.

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230km of range – although India's test cycle is not considered comparable with global standards

The three-door micro electric car features a 17.3kWh battery pack using prismatic cells to provide 230 kilometres of claimed driving range on India’s MIDC testing cycle.

Fast DC charging isn’t supported, though, which is no surprise at the Comet's low price point.

Instead, its AC onboard charger is limited to 3.3kW, which would take around 5.5 hours to recharge from flat to 80 per cent.

The Comet is even rear-wheel-driven, with the electric motor producing 31kW of power and 100Nm of torque.

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What does it get?

Despite the affordable price, it doesn’t skimp on modern features, such as; dual 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto smartphone projection, MG i-Smart smartphone app connectivity (like the MG ZS EV), leather steering wheel, and proximity key with push button start.

It even has full-width LED head- and tail-lights (similar to Hyundai’s Seamless Horizon Lamp on the forthcoming Kona and Sonata), an illuminated MG logo, four funky two-tone exterior colours, and seven sticker packs available.

Could the MG Comet be Australia's cheapest EV?

Probably not, for the same reason so few Indian-market cars ever come to Australia: their safety standards just don't measure up.

The Comet has a relatively modern safety kit of anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, reversing camera and sensors, and even ISOFIX rear-seat child seat anchors – but it’s unlikely to meet stricter local safety standards in developed countries or from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) locally.

In China, it sits above the top-selling Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV.

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The BYD Seagull | Photo via CarNewsChina

Last week, Shenzhen automaker Build Your Dreams (BYD) revealed the slightly larger Seagull electric light hatch (above), but that remains a China-only proposition at launch.

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