MG Hector Deliveries Could Be Delayed Due To Coronavirus Outbreak

The MG Hector has been a runaway success, with the waiting period for the deliveries extending to several months for some variants. To put things in perspective, the company has sold more than 3,100 units of its mid-size SUV in January 2020, which makes it one of the most popular models in the segment. This is not all as the great demand for the model has also pushed the manufacturer to launch a slew of new models in the country. Last month, we saw the advent of the ZS EV and recently, the company even showcased the Hector Plus and Maxus D90-based Gloster at the ongoing Auto Expo 2020. 

While the future looks quite promising for MG Motor India, the outbreak of Coronavirus that has already claimed thousands of lives in China casts dark shadows over the stellar demand that the Hector has so far enjoyed. It is worth mentioning here that the top-selling SUV is based on the Baojun 530, which is, in essence, a throughbred Chinese SUV. No surprise, then, that various components of the Hector are supplied by OEMs based out of China. With the deadly Corona virus pushing various production facilities to come to a standstill, there might be an indefinite delay in the supply of some of the components of the India-spec SUV. 

This would, in turn, affect the deliveries of the MG Hector. The company has already stated that the production and supply logistics of the Hector could take a hit this month due to the coronavirus spelling havoc in China. It has been even said that the manufacturer doesn't have enough inventory to handle the supply chain disruption. 

A press statement by MG Motor India read, "We expect significant disruption in the supply chain from European and Chinese/Asian suppliers and our sales may get impacted in February due to the Coronavirus, as our inventory levels have been minimum because of the bookings backlog. We are working towards ensuring that the impact on the end-consumer and our operations is minimized."

Also Read: MG Hector Plus Debuts at Auto Expo 2020

From the above, it's quite clear that unless contained, the deadly Coronavirus could have a substantial impact on the production and deliveries of the MG Hector. This news comes in soon after the debut of the MG Hector Plus at the ongoing Auto Expo 2020. The new model carries a handful of styling changes and will be available with a 6- and 7-seater format. Its launch is slated to take place in 3-6 months.