Passenger vehicle manufacturers in India are riding the surging wave of demand for SUVs. Earlier this month, Mahindra & Mahindra sold 50,000 XUV700s in just 177 minutes or 282 units booked per minute on October 7-8 and netting nearly Rs 950 crore as ex-showroom value in the bargain.

Now, in a similar manner, MG Motor India has confirmed that it has sold out all its 5,000 units of the recently launched Astor SUV within minutes of bookings opening for the recently launched model.  

Deliveries are slated to commence from November 1, 2021. Customers can book the Astor for 2022, but prices are expected to increase since the introductory prices were only valid for the first 5,000 units.

Deliveries are slated to commence from November 1, 2021. Customers can book the Astor for 2022, but prices are expected to increase since the introductory prices were only valid for the first 5,000 units.

The MG Astor was launched in India on October 11, with introductory prices starting from Rs 978,000 and going up to Rs 16.78 lakh (ex-showroom, India). prices valid for the 5,000 units it will deliver this year. The Astor equipped with the ADAS package on the Sharp trim, which actually come together to make for a new top-spec – ‘Savvy’ trim is priced between Rs 15.78-17.38 lakh and is only available in automatic guise.

The Astor is essentially a petrol-powered version of the ZS EV, albeit with multiple styling updates and plenty more features. The model is positioned in the extremely competitive and ever-growing midsize SUV segment, taking the competition to the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos' doorstep.

Commenting on the strong market response to the Astor, Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, said, “The MG Astor is a premium mid-segment SUV with elegant exteriors, luxurious interiors, and futuristic technology. We are ecstatic about the response we have received from the customers. However, given the global chip crisis that the industry is undergoing, we can only supply a limited number of cars this year. We expect supplies to become better from Q1 next year.”