MG set to motor into big cities

MIDLANDS-based MG Motor UK is looking to further exploit its new-found popularity by expanding its UK dealer network – with Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham its top targets.

The Chinese-owned business ended 2015 with UK sales up 35.5% compared with 2014 – the most successful year for the company since the re-birth of the brand in 2008.

However, despite the rise in sales, its volumes remain small by industry standards and its 3,152 total gave the company a market share of just 0.12%.

Nevertheless, the company sees the sales rise as a platform on which to build and believes that the more accessible it makes its dealer network then the easier it will be more customers to find the brand.

The firm said it was grateful to its customers, and its existing dealers, for their support during 2015 and it said that this year, the brand would be working hard to sustain its growth, which is based largely on the popularity of its MG3 supermini.

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s head of sales and marketing, said: “We’ve got a product development plan for each year until 2020, so it’s an exciting time (for dealers) to consider joining us.

“We want to see our network grow, as we know we’ve still got gaps to fill. We often get asked, by customers and members of the public, when we’ll be announcing dealers in specific areas.

“We’re looking to be able to do that by welcoming new dealers who want to not only join in, but really contribute to the success of the brand.”

He said the company had targeted areas around Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Southampton as offering the most potential for a sales boost.

Any potential dealers would receive the full support of the company, he added.

“We want our dealers to succeed so, ultimately, we can sell cars. We aim to support our dealers from the very beginning in order to do this,” he said.