SAIC will manufacture the MG2 electric car at its Ferrol plant from late 2028, aiming for 73,000 units annually. The model is designed to challenge the Renault 5 and MINI Cooper in the competitive B-segment.
SAIC has chosen Ferrol, in A Coruña, as the site for assembling the MG2 electric car. This move lets the Chinese automaker avoid EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs and puts the MG2 in direct competition with models like the Renault 5 and MINI Cooper.
The MG2 takes design cues from the MG GO! prototype, with rounded headlights and a prominent grille that invite comparisons to the MINI Cooper. MG, however, points to the classic MGB GT from the 1960s and 70s as its main inspiration, hoping to blend nostalgia with modern electric performance.
According to regional authorities, the Ferrol project is expected to create around 2,300 jobs in its first phase, with facilities not only in the port of Ferrol but also in As Pontes.
Regional government of Galicia
Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2028, with an initial goal of 73,000 cars per year. The first phase will use CKD (Completely Knocked-Down) kits shipped from China, but full local manufacturing could follow. The plant can handle up to 120,000 vehicles a year, so a second model—possibly the MG4 Urban—may be added later.
The MG2 will share its platform with the MG4 Urban and is expected to use front-wheel drive. The car will debut in the second half of 2027, with early units built in China at the Ningde plant before Spanish production begins.
Design chief Jozef Kaban says the MG2 will stick closely to the MG GO! concept, aiming for a car that "will spark a lot of emotion and feel like MG is back in motion." David Allison, MG’s UK product director, thinks the MG2’s look will attract buyers who haven’t considered the brand before.
Local media report that the assembly hall will occupy only about 16% of the 460,000 square meter complex, with the total investment estimated at approximately 196.9 million euros. The project is structured for phased localization, starting with CKD kits from China and aiming for deeper local manufacturing over time.
Local Spanish media
The B-segment is crowded. Besides the MINI Cooper and Renault 5, the MG2 will compete with electric hatchbacks like the Alpine A290, MINI Cooper JCW E, CUPRA Raval VZ, Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI, Lancia Ypsilon HF, Opel Corsa GSE, and Peugeot E-208 GTi. MG is also expected to launch an XPower performance version, similar to what it offers with the MG4.
Google/SpainAuto notes that local production is a direct response to European trade barriers and a way to gain ground in a market where design and price matter most. The MG2’s mix of retro styling and modern engineering could help it stand out, especially as European buyers become more open to new electric brands.
SAIC’s approach follows a broader trend of Chinese automakers expanding in Europe, as seen with recent launches from other brands. The MG2’s arrival in Spain signals tougher competition for urban EV buyers, and established brands will have to adapt. If MG meets its targets, Ferrol could become a new center for affordable, stylish electric cars built for European drivers.
