The MG Mulan is a compact EV launched by the MG brand in September 2022 and a model for the global market.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Automakers in China continue to offer significant discounts on electric vehicles (EVs), even though massive price wars have subsided.

SAIC Motor's MG brand yesterday announced a limited-time offer of up to 17 percent off for the compact electric crossover MG Mulan.

Between July 1 and July 31, Chinese customers who purchase the MG Mulan will receive a discount of RMB 24,000 ($3,350), bringing the starting price down to RMB 115,800 yuan.

The MG Mulan is a compact EV launched by the MG brand in September 2022 and an EV for the global market. The model will not only be available to Chinese consumers, but will also be exported to dozens of other countries, the brand said at the time.

SAIC's website currently shows six versions of the model, with starting prices of RMB 139,800, RMB 147,800, RMB 153,800, RMB 163,800, RMB 179,800 and RMB 186,800.

In addition to offering discounts on the purchase of the car, MG is also providing customers with benefits including a 0 percent interest loan, a charging pile worth RMB 3,999, and a lifetime warranty on core components worth RMB 8,999.

The MG Mulan measures 4,287 mm in length, 1,836 mm in width and 1,516 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,705 mm, a compact size that makes it more suitable for European streets. Larger sizes are usually more popular in China.

The MG Mulan, which is called the MG4 Electric in overseas markets, was the highest-selling Chinese-branded EV in Europe in January-May, MG said yesterday.

The model was also the only Chinese brand in the top 10 pure EV registrations in Europe in January-May, MG said.

MG is the latest brand to offer big discounts in China in an attempt to boost sales in the world's largest and most competitive EV market.

Last week, SAIC-Volkswagen's website showed it was offering discounts of up to RMB 42,000 on the ID.3 EV, though it's limited to 7,000 units and only valid for July.

FAW-Volkswagen also announced on July 7 that the starting price of the ID.4 CROZZ had dropped to RMB 183,900, RMB 34,000 lower than the RMB 217,900 displayed on its website.

On July 6, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) organized a group of 16 automakers to release a pledge in which they promised not to disrupt the order of fair competition with unusual prices.

The move appears to be aimed at preventing a repeat of the rare price wars seen in early March, when price cuts by a large number of automakers not only failed to boost sales, but also exacerbated a wait-and-see mood among customers.

On July 8, the CAAM announced it was removing price-related statements from the pledge, saying it was inconsistent with the principles of China's anti-monopoly law.

($1 = 7.1663 RMB)

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