MG is developing a new Ford Ranger rival

MG hopes to be among Australia’s top three best-selling brands by the end of 2030, something it can only achieve by entering the mid-size pick-up market

MG plans to launch a new mid-size pick-up truck in Australia, using the expertise and existing technology of its parent company SAIC Motor. A rival to the Ford Ranger will arrive within the decade to help MG achieve its ambitious sales targets in the region.

MG hopes to be among the top five best-selling brands in Australia by the end of 2027 and among the top three by the end of 2030. MG Motor Australia chief executive Peter Ciao admitted they would “never have a chance to establish themselves in the top three” without pickups as it was the dominant segment in Australia.

More: Chery’s new KP11 pickup truck to launch in 2025 to compete with Hilux and Ranger

MG already has one medium-sized pickup truck in its product portfolio, the rebadged LDV/Maxus T60/T70. Launched in 2019, the MG Extender is currently on sale in markets such as Thailand, Laos and Pakistan.

While bringing the MG Extender to Australia sounds like an obvious choice, CarExpert reports that MG has previously ruled out such a move. The company says they’re waiting for the “right product” on the market, which means the LDV/Maxus T60 twins don’t meet their standards.

MG extender

This means MG may use another SAIC product as the basis for its new truck. One possible contender is the recently unveiled LDV/Maxus Terron 9, which will be launched locally next year with turbodiesel and all-electric (eTerron 9) powertrain options. Regardless, the MG-badged pickup will reportedly come with its own unique features and won’t be another re-badging exercise.

In terms of powertrains, CarsGuide reports that the MG pick-up could be offered with internal combustion, hybrid or all-electric options, with the local CEO admitting that they could use all of parent company SAIC’s technological solutions.

MG Motor Australia chief commercial officer Giles Belcher said: “We evaluate many, many parts. Our parent company is huge, has many brands and a wide range of products. We do everything on its own merits. Assessment and if we think it’s suitable for the Australian market then we’ll do our best to get the product.”

Apart from the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, the upcoming MG will also compete with the Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Volkswagen Amarok, Kia Tasman, Great Wall Cannon Ute, LDV T60 and JAC T9.

Chase/LDV eTerron 9