MG to Launch an EV and Plug-in Hybrid SUV This Year on New Multi-Energy Platform ADAPT

JSW MG Motor India has unveiled MG ADAPT, India's first multi-new energy vehicle (NEV) platform and confirmed that it will launch two SUVs based on the architecture in this financial year. An all-electric model followed by a plug-in hybrid is expected to be launched before March 2027.  

While MG Adapt is based on SAIC Motor's global architecture, the company said Indian engineering teams have worked extensively to tailor it for local conditions. Designed to support four electrified powertrains, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and range-extended electric vehicles (REVs), the new platform will underpin MG's future product pipeline while enabling multiple body styles, higher localisation and faster-charging electrical architecture. 

"Each technology addresses different customer needs and that India will require multiple technologies, not just pure EVs, to achieve its electrification goals. It is very evident that if India needs to get to 30% new energy vehicle penetration, which is the goal of the Government of India... it is not going to be one technology that will get us there. We will have to look at multiple technologies that can be brought together," Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said.

According to Mehrotra, the platform has been developed to improve capital efficiency while giving customers greater choice. "We genuinely believe the answer to India's electrification journey is not a single powertrain, it has to be multiple and this platform will give us the capital efficiency and at the same time the benefit to the consumer in terms of faster charging, longer range, better driving experience and all powertrains in a single platform," he said. 

Hybrid and range-extender models will be introduced later based on market demand. "As the business cases for the hybrid and for the REV come through, the good news is the platform is available and the technology is available. So it is only a question of when do we want to bring the product to the market," he said. 

Mehrotra added that the platform has been engineered to accommodate different combinations of battery packs and fuel tanks. "Depending on the size of the fuel tank and the size of the battery... if the battery is big and fuel tank is small, it is a plug-in hybrid. If the fuel tank is even smaller, then it becomes like a generator... which generates electricity for charging the battery," he said. 

Designed for Multiple Body Styles

Beyond multiple powertrains, MG Adapt has also been developed to support different body styles.

While the first products will be SUVs, Mehrotra indicated the architecture is flexible enough for additional vehicle formats. "It has the capability to have not just multiple powertrains but multiple body styles. So for now we are starting with the SUV," he said. 

One of the platform's biggest technical highlights is support for both 400V and 800V electrical architectures, enabling significantly faster charging. The company believes mature global technology will also help narrow the gap between claimed and real-world driving range. "For us, I think range will be sufficient... the real world range for MG tends to be the closest to the claimed range... because the technology that we are bringing to India is already matured," he said. 

Lower Development Costs 

A key rationale behind the platform is reducing capital expenditure by avoiding the need to develop separate architectures for different powertrains.

"The reason we have done a single platform and multiple powertrains... platform is really where bulk of the CAPEX is spent. By bringing one platform with all the four technologies in it you have actually reduced your CAPEX need by at least half," he said. 

Mehrotra suggested these efficiencies could eventually translate into more competitive pricing.

Localisation to Touch 70%

MG is pairing the new platform with an aggressive localisation strategy. The company said Windsor EV has already tripled its localisation levels and remains on track to achieve 70% localisation. All future models based on the ADAPT platform are also expected to launch with significantly higher domestic content.

Battery packs are already assembled at MG's Halol plant, although certain proprietary components, including the battery management system (BMS), continue to be imported. To support its expanding product portfolio, MG is increasing manufacturing capacity at its Halol facility.

The first phase of expansion, scheduled for completion by March 2027, will raise annual capacity from 120,000 units to 160,000 units. The second phase will eventually take installed capacity to 300,000 units. The company said it is investing ₹3,000-4,000 crore across three key areas including localisation, new product development and plant expansion. This year alone, MG plans to invest approximately ₹1,400 crore.

MG says localisation will play a critical role in making future hybrid and electrified vehicles more affordable.

"We have a clear line of sight of getting to 70% local by the end of 2027. We are steadfast that every new model that we launch should launch at a significantly higher level of localization. So the biggest unlock for profitability for us will come through localization," he said.