MG 4, ZS EV electric car prices rise in Australia by up to $3700 drive-away

Prices of the MG 4 Excite 51 and MG ZS EV line-up – some of the most affordable electric vehicles on sale in Australia – have increased by up to $3700 drive-away.

It follows less than six months after the MG 4 arrived in Australian showrooms – when it became the cheapest new electric car for three days before being overtaken – and two months after the second price cut for the ZS EV in four months.

The increases (before on-road costs) of $1000 for the MG 4 Excite 51, ZS EV Excite and ZS EV Essence, and $2000 for the ZS EV Long Range are attributed to "a rise in raw material costs, shipping costs and currency fluctuations," MG Australia says.

However on-road costs are applied, prices have risen by up to $3700 drive-away – applicable to a ZS EV Long Range in New South Wales.

Buyers in NSW have been hit particularly hard by the price increases, and pay $2227 to $3700 more than before for the affected vehicles – compared to between $988 and $2132 in other states and territories.

It is attributed to the axing of NSW's stamp-duty exemption for new electric-vehicle purchases with a dutiable value of less than $68,750.

The other four models in the MG 4 line-up – the Excite 64, Essence 64, Long Range 77 and XPower – are unchanged at $44,990, $47,990, $55,990 and $59,990 plus on-road costs.

The price increases across some of MG's most affordable electric cars follow two cuts to their recommended retail prices (RRPs) in four months – totalling up to $6425 – amid declining sales in an electric-car market up 161 per cent.

Between $1000 and $3000 was cut from the RRPs in July 2023 – before a further $1000 to $6000 was slashed in November 2023.

MG Australia reported 438 ZS EVs as sold in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December), dow from 569 in the third quarter (July to September), 871 in the second quarter (April to June), and 916 in the first quarter.

Meanwhile sales of the MG 4 – which launched in August 2023 – grew from 941 in the third quarter, to 2193 in the fourth quarter.