MG Motor makes presence felt with new dealerships

This story first appeared in the April issue of AutoTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The car brand confirmed Clintons Motor Group as the dealer representative in Macarthur, Sydney, Geoff King Motors for MG Coffs Harbour, while Norris Motor Group will pave the way as the MG dealership for Brisbane.

Each dealership offers sales, service and parts replacement for MG customers in Australia.

The carmaker also has plans to keep expanding its dealer footprint.

MG Motor’s new dealer partners each boast a reputation for top quality customer service and sales, and now have all models available in Australia – including the MG3 and MG6 PLUS.

“We’re very excited to bolster our operations in Australia with the strategic appointment of the first dealer representatives for the country,” MG Motor Australia general manager Zhu Chao says.

Backed by SAIC Motor Corporate, China’s largest automotive company,
MG Motor is looking to reaffirm its presence in the Australian market.

It has plans for the MG GS and MG ZS to arrive on Australian shores later this year and intends adding a six-year, unlimited kilometre warranty across its range of vehicles.

“Since unveiling the models at Macarthur Shopping Centre in early February we were able to sell six cars in two and a half weeks, which we were quite impressed with,” MG Macarthur marketing manager Steve Wisbey told AutoTalk.

“We have been promoting the new MG models at Macarthur Square, one of the largest shopping centres in New South Wales. This is all about profile. People, when thinking of our brand, have an idea of what the MG marque is but now with the new range people are unsure and it has this fun vibe about the new models.”

MG is best known for its two-seat roadsters. But now the brand is looking to appeal to a different crowd with a diverse range of vehicles created to respond to the needs of consumers around the world.

“We think that by presenting the new models at a shopping centre, it will also take off some of that anxiety that customers have when entering a showroom,” Wisbey says.

“Customers have been able to experience the quality of the cars and can touch and see the design and features of these new models in a different environment.”

Wisbey says Clintons Motor Group chose to represent the brand because dealers are constantly looking to find the next vehicle that will take their dealership to new heights.

“We have seen in the past that many deals have gone down paths that haven’t resulted in the best customer satisfaction. This is the case with some Chinese brands which haven’t proven to be popular in the Australian market and haven’t been the most reliable either.

“And because we have had a close relationship with Toyota for the last 30 years and the dealership has been around since 1945, they didn’t want to jump into something that would not be a safe bet.”

Clinton Motor Group spoke to SAIC executives, did extensive research and spent hundreds of hours in negotiations before deciding to collaborate with MG in Australia, he says.

“We also think that the local Macarthur region is constantly growing, and there is the sentiment that there is good housing affordability and the local economy is booming. I feel confident that the Macarthur area and other catchment areas will contribute to the marque’s growth.”

Wisbey says his company has a very large fleet dealership which is selling hundreds of vehicles a month across the many brands.

“We are prepared to back MG over the long haul in terms of sales. It might not be double digit numbers per month but we have started really well and remain positive about the brand.”
MG Australia new dealerships:

Macarthur MG
29 Blaxland Rd, Campbelltown
NSW 2560
Tel: 02 4631 8888
Opening Hours: Monday to Satur
day – 8.30am to 5.30pm
Sunday – 10am to 5pm

Coffs Harbour MG
8 Tolhurst Place, Coffs Harbour
NSW 2450
Tel: 02 8065 2356
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday –
8am to 5.30pm
Saturday – 8am to 3pm
Sunday – Closed

Brisbane MG
320 Gympie Rd, Kedron QLD 4031
Tel: 07 3866 9700
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday
– 8.30am to 6pm
Saturday – 8.30am to 5pm
Sunday – Closed