Chinese carmaker cuts almost $9000 off popular electric car: Price of MG ZS EV slashed to undercut BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora as MG4 ditches drive-away pricing

Thought electric car price wars were over? Think again. 

Until smaller models arrive, now-established Chinese brands are willing to slash prices to drive sales. The latest culprit is MG, which has chopped up to $8700 (depending on state or territory) off the ZS EV Excite's price, making it $34,990 drive-away.

This drive-away price is a limited time offer for MY23 Excite models until September, likely running them out before the anticipated new-generation ZS’s arrival.

The ZS Essence and Essence Long Range trims do not get major price cuts, with both cars having a simple $1000 cut from their list price after the whole ZS line-up experienced steep price rises in July. 

“MG has been leading the charge with attainable electric vehicles since the launch of the local award-winning ZS EV and MG4, with reduced nationwide drive away pricing on some of our range Australia wide, we maintain our leadership position in this space," said MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao.

“MG is putting customers first by ensuring all road users can access a wide range of affordable zero emission vehicles."

MG has made price adjustments across its entire electric range, dropping the list price of all MG4 models at the same time as moving away from national drive-away pricing for its breakthrough MG4 small car … for now.

It’s all a little confusing but it means that for every buyer except those based in Canberra (where an MG4 Excite 51kWh now costs $39,694 drive-away) you’ll pay the same or a little more to get into an MG4.

“We regularly invest in brand-building promotions, sales campaigns such as the one we had on MG4 recently with [drive-away pricing] and like the one we’re running with ZS EV Excite and MG4 right now,” an MG spokesperson said justifying the change in pricing strategy. 

In the past, the MG4 Excite has been Australia's cheapest EV as has the BYD Dolphin. Until yesterday it was the GWM Ora Standard Range which retains its permanent $35,990 drive-away offer. 

The cheap end of the electric car market will only heat up in the coming years with the addition of Hyundai’s Inster and other new rivals likely.

So far, MG has sold 2771 MG4s in 2024 but the ZS small SUV’s elevated price made it a harder pill to swallow, with sales down 64 per cent in the first half of this year.

Another sales driver from MG is the longest factory warranty in Australia that comes in force from August 1, when MG will cover all of its cars — combustion and electric — with a 10-year/250,000km warranty.

2024 MG ZS EV pricing

Prices are before on-road costs unless otherwise stated

Variant	Price
MG ZS EV Excite	$34,990 (drive-away, down up to $8703)
MG ZS EV Essence	$41,990 (-$1000)
MG ZS EC Long Range	$46,990 (-$1000)

2024 MG4 pricing

Prices are before on-road costs

Variant	Price
MG4 Excite 51	$37,990 (-$2000)
MG4 Excite 64	$41,990 (-$3000)
MG4 Essence 64	$44,990 (-$3000)
MG4 Essence 77	$50,990 (-$2000)
MG4 X-Power	$55,990 (-$4000)