Union Minister Nitin Gadkari drives India’s First Pure Electric Internet SUV assembled in India: the ZS EV

New Delhi, December 19, 2019: Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India today drove the first MG ZS EV assembled in India. The start of production of the MG ZS EV, India’s First Pure Electric Internet SUV, is part of the carmaker’s commitment to a clean and green future and aligns with the government’s vision to put more electric vehicles on the Indian roads.

Speaking on the future of mobility in the country and the role of automotive players such as MG Motor India in it, Shri Nitin Gadkari said, “India stands at the cusp of a new era that will be driven by sustainability. EV adoption is the future of mobility and will play a huge role in curbing the growing pollution crisis, as well as reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels. I am delighted to see that private players such as MG Motor India are taking measures to complement the government's steps to promote electric mobility in the country.”

MG Motor India is setting up a 5-step charging ecosystem that is aimed at fulfilling the needs of EV customer. Each ZS EV comes with an on-board cable to charge at any 15amp socket. The car maker will also install an AC fast charger at home/office of the customers. The carmaker is also setting up a DC Super-Fast charging network at select MG showrooms that can be availed 24x7 and plans to create an extended charging network across MG dealerships in select satellite cities along key routes and provide charge-on-the-go with RSA (road side assistance). Through SuperFast DC chargers (50 kW), the ZS EV will reach 80% battery capacity within 50 minutes while AC fast chargers installed at homes will take around 6 - 8 hours for a full charge.

Commenting on the showcase of the ZS EV, Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “Through several progressive measures such as the launch of FAME-II and BS VI standards, the Indian government has been making major efforts to promote cleaner technologies in the country. MG Motor India applauds the government’s commitment to sustainability and green mobility. We are thankful for the government’s continued support in the development of the end-to-end ecosystem that we are putting in place through our associations with market-leading charging infrastructure companies.”

Not only charging infrastructure, MG Motor India is also working responsibly towards ensuring that the MG ZS EV’s battery is re-used and disposed responsibly. The company has tied up with two different companies - Exicom Tele-Systems for second-life use of the batteries in a wide range of non-automotive applications; and Umicore, global materials technology and recycling group headquartered in Belgium for battery handling, recycling and end-of-lifecycle battery disposal.

About MG Motor India

Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world-famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has thousands of loyal fans, making it one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic and innovative brand over the last 95 years. MG Motor India has commenced its manufacturing operations at its car manufacturing plant at Halol in Gujarat.