MG Motor UK plans to realise 130% car sales growth in 2020 with ambitious plans to follow-up a record 2019 with 30,000 new car registrations.

The Chinese-owned brand spelled out details of the second phase of its ‘Momentum & Growth’ mid-term plan at its annual conference event, which was this year held at the Renaissance Hotel in St Pancras, London

The event also served to recognise the best retailers in its franchised car dealer network, with Nathaniel Cars, Cardiff and Bridgend - winner of the same title and the OEM's Global Five Star Award for Excellence award last year - named as MG Dealer of the Year 2019 among seven awards handed out by Wales International football team coach and former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs.

Speaking at the event, Daniel Gregorious, MG Motor UK’s head of sales and marketing, said: “Our dealer network had a wonderful 2019, meeting more new customers and selling more cars than ever before.”

Last year MG matched its 2018 registrations total of 9,049 by September and finished the year with 13,075 sales – a record under current owner SAIC.

The brand was bolstered by the introduction of its first electric vehicle (EV), the ZS EV SUV, during the summer and then added its new HS flagship model to the range in October – boosting optimism for continued growth.

A statement issued by the brand said: “Key to the brand’s growth in 2020 will be the first full year of sales for its two newest cars, the All New MG HS C-SUV and the fully electric MG ZS EV.

“With a second fully electric car to be launched this year, MG’s dealers are geared-up for a busy and profitable year.”

Speaking to AM magazine as part of this month’s manufacturer profile feature, Gregorious said that this year’s new range introduction would be a “completely new body style for an EV in Europe” and will give fleet audiences in-particular an “alternative C-segment option”.

And he tipped the brand to become yet “more aggressive” while benefitting from increased supply of the ZS EV.

He said: “What we’ve shown is that we can get the pricing right and we certainly have the supply.

“We want to sell several thousand ZE EVs per year and there will be greater supply in 2020.”

In 2019 MG met its self-imposed target of a 100-strong dealer network wit the opening of Stoneacre Motor Group's Doncaster dealership and plans to have a further 20 new dealers on-board by the end of June 2020.

Among those awarded for their strong 2019 performance alongside Nathaniel Cars at last week’s conference were:

MG Sales Rhodium Award – Richmond Motor Group, Southampton and Portsmouth

MG Aftersales Rhodium Award – Eric Stead, Sheffield

MG Sales Platinum Award - Chorley Group, Chorley and Burnley

MG Aftersales Platinum Award – Arnold Clark, Rutherglen

MG Sales Gold Award – Mackie Motors, Brechin

MG Aftersales Gold Award – FG Barnes, Maidstone

Gregorious said: “Through a combination of hard work and performance excellence, our dealers are building their local reputations and their local parc, securing a solid future for their MG businesses.

“Selecting the top seven was a tough job, and we celebrate the success of the whole network as well as our seven winners. 2020 is a pivotal year for MG as we look to continue our strong volume and network growth.

“With a focus on electric cars, we have a unique opportunity to grow significantly this year.

“Our ambition is huge and we are confident that we can achieve our goals by working closely together with our dealer partners.”