MG has confirmed its incoming U9 ute will undergo “thousands of kilometres” of local testing to ensure it will meet the needs of Australian buyers ahead of its launch later this year.
Fresh off the back of its global unveiling at the Melbourne Motor Show less than two weeks ago, the MG U9 marks the brand’s first-ever ute in a segment that is becoming increasingly crowded by fellow Chinese rivals from the likes of BYD, JAC, Foton and GWM.
MG hopes to stand out by "rigorously" tailoring the U9, which carries a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that delivers 160kW/520Nm to all four wheels, specifically to Australian roads and conditions.
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“Our local team is committed to fine-tuning the MG U9 over the coming months to meet the needs of Australian drivers,” said MG Motor Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ciao.
“Most importantly, it will offer incredible value for Australian families and tradespeople alike.”
Of course, it is not uncommon for foreign brands, particularly those operating in the competitive ute segment, to engineer their vehicles to local conditions.
Australia’s most popular ute, the Ford Ranger, is designed and engineered at the brand’s local headquarters in Melbourne for the global market.
Prior to the current-generation Ranger's release in July 2022, Ford claimed it undertook 10,000km of desert driving in pre-production models across Australia over the previous year, equivalent to what it said was 1,250,000km of customer driving.
It’s a similar story for the incoming Kia Tasman ute, with the brand’s local operations stating that the all-new model has covered some 30,000km across Australia in what is poised to be a crucial market for the brand ahead of deliveries commencing in July.
With their rapid research and development times, however, newer Chinese brands have proven that they can release new models much faster and at a considerably lower cost than what was traditionally the case, while still claiming to have undertaken extensive testing on local roads.
The BYD Shark 6, for example, was launched for the Australian market in October of 2024 despite local examples only being spotted undertaking local testing in early May, roughly five months prior.
@carsguide.com.au MG’s first ute revealed at Melbourne Motor Show last night! #MG #U9 #car #carsguide #fyp
Its starting price of $57,900 before on-road costs significantly undercuts a number of its Japanese and American rivals, particularly when factoring in its extensive standard equipment list. Already the Shark 6 has shot to Australia's sixth-most-popular model, clocking 2810 sales last month.
MG will no doubt come to the table competitively as well, with the brand already claiming strong early pre-launch interest as it eyes the title of a "top-three brand" in Australia by the end of the decade.
The U9's full pricing and specifications list is expected to be announced closer to the model's local launch in the fourth quarter of this year.
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