With a sleek design, modern tech, and promises of going for thousands of kilometres, the appeal to early adopters of MG ZS EV, the future of mobility was nothing short of irresistible. However, with more owners living with the vehicle, some severe issues might undo all that MG has been doing to take the upper hand.
Overpromised Range of ZS EV
With an advertised range of about 461 km per charge. But owners report experiences very far from this, especially when conditions are pretty challenging, such as in India, from heavy traffic to scorching heat and varied terrain. The EV can be as low as 230-250 km. An owner from Mumbai said, “When I’m caught in a traffic jam or running the air conditioner on a hot day, the range drops drastically.”
Tech Issues in MG
Modern cars are as much about software as hardware. Disastrously, some of the owners have complained about the MG ZS EV infotainment system, unresponsive touchscreens, random reboots, and erratic Bluetooth connectivity. Being so digital, software glitches seem rather more conspicuous when it has to do with a car.
“For an EV, the tech needs to feel intuitive and bulletproof. Any tech failure feels more glaring when you’re driving something that’s supposed to be the future,” says Doug DeMuro, popular car YouTuber and reviewer.
Disastrous After-Sales Support by MG
Service and maintenance don’t really come to one’s mind while making a purchase of an electric vehicle. However, for many owners of the MG ZS EV, this is the biggest headache. Some owners complained that they have had to wait weeks for routine services and repair, while the unavailability of spare parts added a further delay. Without consistent after-sales services, MG risks alienating its most loyal customers.
“The cars are the easy part,” a pioneer of electric car movements, Elon Musk once said. “The hardest part is scaling the infrastructure to keep them running efficiently.”
Resale Value Concerns of ZS EV
The most haunting concern the owners of MG ZS face is regarding the car’s high rate of depreciation. With new electric vehicle models popping out in the market continuously, the owners are always worried about whether their cars will be sold in the secondary market. As the technology remains quite stable in the case of traditional vehicles, with EVs progressing faster, its more aged versions become outdated within a much shorter time. It feels great now, but with newer models coming in with better range and features, I’m concerned about what its resale value will be in three or four years,” said an MG ZS EV owner from Delhi.
ELCTRIK Speaks
The MG ZS EV is an iconic symbol of the automobile future but also underlines challenges toward electric mobility. MG has entered the EV market with great force, but the electric vehicle revolution still remains in its infancy in India, and early adopters are looking to car makers like MG to iron out initial problems. Issues ranging from discrepancies in range to the influence of software bugs and service delays are manageable but leave considerable ground for improvement.
