MG Motor, the British automotive brand owned by China's SAIC, has launched the Comet EV in India at an introductory price of Rs 798,000 (ex-showroom), with bookings to start from May 15, and deliveries expected in the same month. 

The Comet is the second addition to MG Motor India's electric vehicle (EV) portfolio, with ZS EV being the first which was launched in January 2020. With the entry of the Comet EV, the brand expects its overall sales to reach 80,000 to 100,000 units in CY2023. Furthermore, the company is also banking on the Comet EV to target a 20% share of India's overall passenger EV market, which as of FY2023 stood at 39,544 units (of which MG sold 4,412 units), and is also expecting the Indian passenger EV market to cross 1.5 lakh units in CY2023.

The city car is targeted towards the aspirational youth of India, but it is also expected to attract a significant number of first-time car buyers seeking an affordable and eco-friendly personal mobility solution. The company also anticipates interest from other demographics who will appreciate the practicality of the micro-car's features. 

Smallest passenger EV  
MG is well known for packaging its vehicles with in-car technology and the Comet, although an entry-level EV, is no exception. The Comet comes with over 50 connected car features and is the smallest passenger EV in India as of now, measuring 2,974mm in length, 1,505mm in width, and 1,640mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,010mm. On the other hand, the Alto K10, another smaller car launched in August of 2022, measures 3,530mm in length, 1,490mm in width, and 1,520mm in height with the wheelbase, at 2,380mm, making the K10 556mm longer than the Comet EV.

Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, is confident about the new model and says while the Comet is aimed at the youth, it has the capability to cater to multiple segments. “This car grows on you; it can surprise many people. More and more people are interested in the Comet - young mothers, retired people, golfers etc. In terms of production readiness, we should be moving to 3,000 units a month, that is the kind of potential we see in this car," he told Autocar Professional.

At the beginning of production from its Halol plant in Gujarat, the Comet will feature approximately 54 percent localised content, and MG Motor India plans to increase this to 60 percent by the end of CY2023. The company is sourcing the vehicle's tyres and windshields from local suppliers in India, while the 17.3kWh LFP or lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry battery pack is being sourced from Tata AutoComp Systems.

With inputs from Mayank Dhingra, Autocar Professional and Satvik Khare, Autocar India

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