MG07 Design is Allegedly Similar to Porsche Taycan and Xiaomi SU7, MG Boss Speaks Out

MG07 car. (Photo: MG)

JAKARTA - Introducing a new electric car in the midst of increasingly fierce competition is not an easy matter. The situation becomes more complicated when the design of the vehicle is considered to have similarities with other models that have already been popular.

This is what MG experienced after the launch of MG07 reaped accusations of plagiarism, even triggering the suspension of the live broadcast of its launch. In the live broadcast held on June 29, Chen Cui as the head of MG's brand operations explained the design philosophy of the latest fastback sedan.

However, throughout the event, many viewers compared the appearance of MG07 to the Porsche Taycan and Xiaomi SU7. According to Chinese media reports, Chen insisted that MG07 did not plagiarize a single detail, before finally looking emotional and ending the session sooner than planned.

Launching from Carscoop, Wednesday, July 8, MG then gave further responses in the next press conference. Chen tried to straighten out the assumption by stating that if MG07 took inspiration from a design, then the source of inspiration was MG's own history.

He pointed out a number of design elements inspired by the legendary MGB GT Fastback model introduced in 1965. According to him, MG07 is a modern interpretation of the design language that has become the brand's identity for decades.

Apart from the claim, debates about the design of electric vehicles are indeed becoming more frequent. Whether battery-based cars, gasoline-powered, or hybrids, all manufacturers are racing to create vehicles with the lowest possible air resistance in order to increase efficiency.

This condition makes many manufacturers adopt a similar design approach, ranging from a low front, a body with a smooth surface, a flat door handle, a sloping roof line, to a fastback-style stern. When all manufacturers pursue the same aerodynamic target, the space to present a truly different design becomes increasingly limited.

Even so, not a few parties consider the similarity of MG07 with a number of other models is quite striking. The design of the headlights is said to have a character that reminds of the Porsche Taycan, some of the wheel design is also considered familiar, while the silhouette of the side of this car is considered to resemble the Xiaomi SU7, which has previously also often been compared to the Taycan.

The similarities can indeed not be used as evidence of plagiarism, but it is enough to create such perceptions in the public eye. This debate ultimately reflects a new challenge in the era of electric vehicles. The demand for aerodynamic efficiency makes many cars have increasingly similar proportions.

In the midst of this condition, the biggest challenge for manufacturers is not just producing cars that are aerodynamically efficient, but creating a strong design character so that the product still has an identity and is not easily mistaken for a vehicle from another brand.

Photo: MG07 car. (Photo: MG)