JSW MG Targets 70% Localisation: The Right Fix For The Wrong Problem
JSW MG Motor India has announced a plan to push localisation to 70 percent across its ICE and EV lineup, backed by a fresh investment of around Rs 3,700 crore. The capital will also fund plant capacity expansion and product development, with Managing Director Anurag Mehrotra framing the move as a supply-chain resilience play.
What was announced
JSW MG Motor India has received board approval to raise localisation levels to approximately 70 percent across both its internal-combustion and electric range. Managing Director Anurag Mehrotra told Autocar Professional that the 70 percent figure will be the "starting point" for any new model the company brings to India, and existing products will be re-engineered toward the same benchmark.
Localisation lowers MG's cost base, but it does not buy the reliability reputation Indian buyers actually demand from a long-term ownership proposition.
The investment commitment is around Rs 3,700 crore, covering localisation, plant capacity expansion and product development. Mehrotra framed the rationale in supply-chain terms, saying higher self-reliance is the company's mitigation plan for global disruption. The company also expects EVs and hybrids to account for roughly 75 percent of its India sales over the next five years, which makes deeper local content on electric components strategically important.
Current localisation levels are well short of the target. The table below summarises where MG stands today.
| Item | Current level / status |
|---|---|
| Comet EV | Around 61 percent localised |
| Hector | Around 50 percent localised |
| Battery pack assembly | Done locally in India |
| Battery cells | Imported |
| Advanced EV components | Imported |
| Target across lineup | Around 70 percent |
Battery cell manufacturing in India is not part of the announced scope; the localisation gain is largely from sub-assemblies and ICE components.
The Car Jury verdict
Higher localisation is the correct lever, but it does not fix what is actually broken at MG India: long-term reliability perception and after-sales confidence. Arun Panwar of Arun Panwar puts the buyer anxiety bluntly, asking why an MG cannot offer the reliability a Toyota Fortuner does. That is the real wall JSW MG has to climb, and 70 percent local content alone will not climb it.
Where this plan does help is pricing stability and parts availability, which directly benefits the Windsor EV (our BUY pick) and could finally unstick the Hector from our WAIT call. Rachit Hirani of MotorOctane flags a fixable irritant too: "MG's cameras are not the best when it comes to 360 degree qualities." Localisation buys MG the room to upgrade hardware like this. Spend the savings on parts networks and software, not discounts.