Affordable EVs to be assembled by firm in South Africa

JSW MG Motor India, established in 2019, is a joint venture between the India-based JSW Group and Chinese carmaker SAIC, the owner of the formerly British MG Motor Group. The company operates a vehicle manufacturing plant in Gujarat, with an annual production capacity of approximately 80,000 cars.

Under the terms of Megamillion’s deal with the Indian conglomerate, rebranded MG EVs will be introduced to the South African market under the “Everione” name.

The initial model slated for local launch is the Everione.happy, which is a rebranded version of the MG Comet. Notably, the Comet itself is a rebadged SAIC Wuling Air. This ultra-compact, three-door, four-seat hatchback is powered by a 31kW motor producing 110Nm of torque, with a claimed acceleration of 0-100km/h in 19.9 seconds.

The manufacturer states that the Everione.happy’s 17.3kWh battery offers a city driving range of up to 230km on a single charge.

While its specifications may appear modest compared to entry-level EVs from brands like BYD, GWM, and Volvo, the Everione.happy is expected to be significantly more affordable. Although local pricing is yet to be confirmed, Megamillion asserts it will be “Africa’s most affordable premium EV.”

For context, the MG Comet is priced at 499,000 rupees in India, which translates to roughly R110,000 at the current exchange rate. Even if the final South African price doubles this figure, it would still position the Everione.happy as the most affordable EV in the country by a considerable margin, potentially undercutting the Dayun S5, which currently has a starting price of around R400,000. Similar to the Dayun S5, the Everione.happy has a claimed top speed of approximately 100km/h.

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The partnering companies highlight that the Everione.happy will feature class-leading safety technologies and advanced connected car functionalities, including support for over 99 voice commands in six local African languages, such as Afrikaans and isiZulu.

The Everione.happy is anticipated to be available for sale in South Africa within the next few months, alongside Megamillion’s EV home charging solutions.

Looking ahead, both companies have announced plans to introduce more EV models from JSW MG Motor India to the African market in 2025 and 2026. JSW MG Motor India’s current fully electric vehicle lineup also includes the MG Windsor EV and the MG ZS EV. The petrol-powered version of the latter was reintroduced in South Africa late last year as part of MG’s local relaunch.