MG is in the news for its innovative price structure with the Windsor EV where the car is sold separately and the battery is available on a rental basis
The BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) program has now been extended to MG ZS EV and Comet EV as well. It started with the recently launched Windsor EV. MG Motor wants to popularize this trend in our market. The aim is to ease the financial burden off the shoulders of potential car buyers initially. We know that the cost of the EV battery is around 40% of the total cost of the car. That is a huge hurdle for most car buyers who want to go for electric cars. Taking this into consideration, MG is selling the car separately and offering its battery on a rental basis where customers need to pay as per their usage. This is called BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service).
MG ZS EV and Comet EV Get BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service)
Now buyers can opt for this model with the existing EVs from MG – ZS EV and Comet EV as well. Under this program, the MG Comet EV has a starting price of an almost unbelievable Rs 4.99 lakh, ex-showroom (down from Rs 6.99 lakh). The battery rental is Rs 2.5 per km. Therefore, you need to calculate the distance you travel in a month and pay MG accordingly. Similarly, the price of the ZS EV has dropped to an enticing Rs 13.99 lakh, ex-showroom (down from Rs 18.98 lakh). In this case, the battery rent is Rs 4.5 per km. Not only that, MG also offers an assured buyback program where owners stand to get 60% value of the car back if they sell it back to MG after 3 years of ownership.
Speaking on this occasion, Satinder Singh Bajwa, Chief Commercial Officer, JSW MG Motor India, said, “With BaaS, we have created a platform for easy ownership, making our EVs more accessible than ever. Given the strong response to Windsor under the BaaS program, we are now extending its benefits to our popular EV models, the Comet and ZS. I am confident that this unique ownership model will further boost EV adoption in the country.”
Our View
I must admit the deals with BaaS look immensely attractive with all three electric models from MG in India. The Windsor is the latest entrant into our market. With the prices starting at just Rs 9.99 lakh, ex-showroom for the car and Rs 3.5 per km battery rental, people should find the value in this proposition. However, people need to be made aware of the fact that there are multiple rental packages on offer depending on their needs and usage. Therefore, they should visit the showroom and understand the entire concept closely. I must also mention here that these models are available to buy along with the battery if someone is not interested in the rental service. Hence, the flexibility is there.
Also Read: Explained – MG Windsor’s Industry-First Purchase Model
