SAIC launches MG4 – also with semi-solid-state battery

MG kicked off pre-sales at the beginning of August, with prices starting at 73,800 yuan. The current price tag of 68,800 yuan translates to around 8,200 euros – so roughly 800 euros less than during pre-sale.

It is not only the lower starting price that is new: instead of four, there are now five variants, including a version with a semi-solid-state battery. At the pre-sale launch, MG said the battery type would hit the road in 2025, but did not give an exact date. Now, the only data available concerning that variant is its proce. The MG4 “Anxin Edition” with the semi-solid-state battery is listed at 102,800 yuan, or just under 12,300 euros. According to CN EV Post, the model is already being offered at a slight discount of 99,800 yuan (around 11,900 euros).

Since the premium over the LFP options is relatively small – the most expensive LFP version costs 96,800 yuan (11,600 euros) – CN EV Post links this to the alleged technical data of the semi-solid-state battery. The announcement may have generated attention, but the battery likely “does not deliver a breakthrough in range.”

Local media reports suggest the semi-solid-state battery, developed by SAIC-backed startup QingTao Energy, offers an energy density of 180 Wh/kg – although it is unclear whether this figure refers to the cell level or the full pack. For comparison, Nio’s semi-solid-state battery using WeLion cells is said to reach 261 Wh/kg for its 150-kWh packs. Either way, the MG4’s CLTC range is listed at 537 kilometres, compared to 530 kilometres for the largest LFP battery – a marginal difference. MG has not officially confirmed these figures, and neither the capacity nor the charging behaviour of the semi-solid-state battery has been published.

By contrast, details of the two LFP packs are available: the smaller version offers 42.8 kWh, enabling a CLTC range of 437 kilometres. This pack is offered in three trims, priced at 68,800 yuan, 76,800 yuan and 83,800 yuan. The second option is a 53.9-kWh battery with a claimed CLTC range of 530 kilometres, priced at 96,800 yuan in a single trim. This battery is said to charge from 30 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.

The rest of the technical data is also already public knowledge: the new MG4 is based on SAIC’s E3 electric platform. It comes with a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 120 kW of peak power and 250 Nm of torque, and it reaches a top speed of 160 km/h. The car measures 4.40 metres in length, 1.84 metres in width and 1.55 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 2.75 metres – making it noticeably larger than its predecessor.

MG had first launched the original MG4 – initially called MG Mulan in China – in 2022 as the brand’s first model on a dedicated EV platform, the MSP. Until then, all MG EVs had been adapted from combustion models. In Europe, the MG4 quickly became one of the most successful Chinese-made electric cars by sales volume, while demand in its domestic market remained weaker. As a result, the expected facelift of the first generation was dropped in favour of a completely new successor. While sales have only just started in China, the new MG4 is expected to arrive in Europe soon – still the most important market for MG. Pricing for Europe has yet to be announced.

carnewschina.com, cnevpost.com

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrivve’s German edition.