Does 'Made In China' matter? How MG will convince you to "get beyond origin" for your next new car

MG Australia says a vehicle's country of origin is no longer relevant, as the Chinese brand outlines it's plan to help customers "get beyond origin".

The Australian new car market has always moved in similar waves when it comes to imported vehicles. There was a time when Japanese brands were met with resistance in our market. And then again with Korean brands. And there is an argument that more recently, Chinese brands have faced similar resistance.

For brands like MG, though, any reputation-based stigma appears to have vanished, with the once-British marque (it's now owned by Chinese giant SAIC) enjoying incredible sales success in Australia, cementing itself as one of our fastest growing brands.

The secret, says MG, is to help customers "get beyond origin" by simply becoming "one more choice in the market".

"I find it quite strange, personally, to say where is a car actually made these days, if you think about all the parts that sit inside it? Our safety system is from (German company) Bosche, so what do we call that?" Asks MG Australia's sales and product chief, Danny Lenartic.

"I think MG has always said that we want to offer one more choice in the market, and we think it's a good choice, and we hope the customers agree.

"That's what we've mandated from day one, and a good choice to us means a lot of car for your money, and a powerful warranty to back it up. And the right dealers in the right locations and service points.

"We create that whole ecosystem so people can get beyond origin."

Mr Lenartic says the any narrative surrounding Chinese cars is "softening", and he credits MG's success with driving that message.

"I find it an interesting narrative, but I think that narrative is softening because people know their iPhones are made elsewhere as well," he says.

"I think made in China is softening, because MG has done a lot of the heavy lifting to help achieve that."

MG's sales certainly support that viewpoint, with the brand currently on fire in Australia. In a market that has rapidly contracted in 2020, MG sales are up 57 per cent so far this year, with more than 8000 vehicles finding homes.