MG — SAIC Motor — Who's really behind Chinese cars

"em-jee."

leader in overseas sales

MG is a rare case of a British name Chinese industry didn't invent but genuinely inherited: the legendary sports marque passed to SAIC's control along with the assets of bankrupt MG Rover in 2005. Since then, the brand has lived a double life — keeping its recognizable badge and sporting spirit, while being developed and built in China with an eye on global markets, including Europe.

Distinguishing feature

MG is one of the few brands under genuine Chinese ownership whose lineage traces back not to the 2000s but to 1920s British motoring — and that heritage remains its biggest asset in international markets.