The MG car stock shortage has reached showrooms that most people thought were safe. Supply shortages now touch almost every brand, and even a Chinese brand like MG Motor feels the squeeze. Still, this born-again British marque, now a challenger brand with a top-10 spot in sales, spent months weathering the crippling supply storm better than most.
MG told car sales it expects around 7000 new vehicles on Aussie soil next month, and that stock injection should ease the wait. The story looks different in the UK, where buyers who want an electric car found that MG stopped taking orders for the ZS EV and the MG 5. If you tried to place an order lately, you know how that feels.
The Chinese-owned firm has lived for over 100 years, and it keeps selling more cars to private individuals, not only companies and rental firms. Those buyers respond to a plain sales pitch built on advanced tech and outstanding value. That is why the brand keeps growing even while stock runs thin.
MG Stock Situation and Delivery Wait Times
Most brands have asked buyers to accept lengthy delivery times of two to 12 months or more. MG kept up regular deliveries for a long while, because it held enough stock on hand to cover the vast majority of orders. Now customers face delivery wait times for the first time, and MG will not say which models sit in short supply.
The impending stock injection should keep the wait down to a month or two. Since the launch of the new ZS EV in November last year, an unprecedented level of demand has filled the order banks until the end of this year, so MG chose to temporarily suspend new orders. MG explained that choice in a statement.
The MG 5 buyers hit a wall too, because the order books closed before a facelifted model arrives. An MG spokesman said the company placed its final order for the current MG5 EV earlier this year, in anticipation of the eagerly awaited replacement. That new car will launch by the end of 2022, and pricing details should come soon, so anyone hoping to swap into an MG 5 instead must wait.
Causes: Global Supply Chain Issues and Semiconductor Shortage
Global supply chain issues sit behind most of the trouble, and they have delayed some arrival dates beyond what MG originally estimated at the time of order. MG Motor Australia works with its parent company to reduce delay to an absolute minimum. Every vehicle counts right now, so the team keeps pushing to secure more production.
The well-publicised semiconductor shortages hit the UK side as well, and they leave MG with a limited ability to match supply to demand. MG works with its production colleagues to increase volume. At the time, the company said it expected to start accepting orders for the ZS EV again in a matter of weeks, once this global problem eased.
MG’s Response and Incoming Stock
A local MG spokesperson said MG fought really hard to win a large proportion of the automotive allocation for the region. The goal was simple: keep Australians moving. MG will not share current stock figures because of commercial confidence.
The company feels well prepared to navigate the situation, thanks to its growth in this market and its manufacturing capabilities. Once officials have lifted China’s lockdowns, MG plans on increasing production output at its Shanghai plant to improve supply. That extra output should meet customer demand in every local showroom.
MG Sales Performance and Market Position
A tighter supply pipeline did not hurt MG’s sales much in Australia. The brand landed among the top 10 best-selling brands again last month, as it has all year. It also posted positive sales growth in 2022 over 2021, which was already a record year.
In Britain, MG took second place among the British born-and-bred brands during the first six months of the year, just behind Vauxhall. This summer season, MG is already selling more cars than Vauxhall, so it looks ready to grab the No.1 slot by the end of the year. Its order books and slice of the new-car pie keep growing, and the MG2 should help.
Over the last 12 months, from June ’25 to June ’26, MG spent its time overtaking five major motor manufacturers from South Korea, France, the Czech Republic and Japan. In the first half of 2025 compared with the same stretch this year, MGs sold better than Hyundais, Peugeots and Skodas. MG also outsold Toyota and Nissan, even though MG has no plant in the UK and those two each run a factory there.
The overall pecking order in Britain still starts with Volkswagen, then BMW, Kia, Audi, Ford, Mercedes, Vauxhall and MG. One UK writer believes the Brit-turned-Chinese firm will soon catch up with Merc. After that, a reinvigorated MG may soon have overhauled a stagnant Ford, whose sales and market share keep tumbling.
MG Pricing
In recent months, MG buyers have watched prices creeping up. The biggest jump came in April, when the MY22 line-up reached local showrooms. That change hit consumers who already felt the pinch.
Consumers in the UK voice concerns that both models will carry a substantial price hike once MG has relaunched them. The rise in cost at rivals feeds those fears. Some launch prices, like the Ora Funky Cat, also came in higher-than-expected.
MG Car Stock Shortage: Standard Equipment and Dealer Availability
Even with the MG car stock shortage, MG shows real strength during this supply chain crisis, because it kept all its standard equipment across its local portfolio.
Many car-makers felt forced to remove features because of the global semi-conductor shortage, which hit many industries. MG avoided that, and it makes the brand’s story more impressive.
If you feel desperate for a ZS or a 5, some dealers may still have cars in stock or from cancelled orders. Don’t expect a bargain, though. Dealers advertised several cars priced at a premium, and that would have felt unthinkable 18 months ago.
FAQs
Why is there an MG car stock shortage?
Global supply chain issues and semiconductor shortages have limited MG’s ability to match supply to demand.
How long are the MG delivery wait times?
MG has not shared exact figures, but the Australian report suggests a month or two because an impending stock injection is on the way.
Has MG stopped taking orders for the ZS EV and MG 5?
Yes, in the UK in 2022 MG paused new orders for the ZS EV because its order banks were full, and the MG 5 order books closed ahead of a facelifted model.
Is MG still selling well despite the shortage?
Yes, MG stayed among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia and keeps growing in the UK.
Can I still find an MG in stock?
Some dealers may still have cars in stock or from cancelled orders, but sadly they are priced at a premium.
