Frankfurt, Germany. mobile.bg team from the event site.
When MG Motor – the brand with a Chinese heart and British pedigree – gathers the European media in Frankfurt, but not for a car test, know that something big is in the works. The first-ever MG Tech Day abandoned traditional glossy premieres to dive deep into the "kitchen" of automotive engineering: battery chemistry, software architecture and bold design visions.
The location of the action was not chosen by chance – Frankfurt, the beating heart of the European auto industry. Three key figures took the stage: visionary Josef Kaban (vice president of MG Global Design Center), innovator Qiu Jie (head of R&D), and Dr. Li Zheng - the brain behind battery development and co-founder of Qingtao. Here's what they told our team.
MG launches the world's first mass-produced semi-solid-state battery on the Old Continent
The explosive revelation came from Dr. Li Zheng, who unmasked the SolidCore technology. Here, MG is not just making promises for the future, but taking on the role of a technological leader: this is the first semi-solid state battery to enter mass production. While the competition is still experimenting in white coats, in China the conveyors are already running. And even more interestingly. This technological leap is expected to set foot on European soil before the end of the year - not as an exhibition model, but as a fully operational component.
From a technical point of view, the magic lies in the manganese-based spinel structure on the cathode side. Sounds complicated? In fact, it allows lithium ions to move in three dimensions. By comparison, standard LFP batteries are limited to one-dimensional movement, and NCM cells - to two-dimensional. The results of this "3D movement" are impressive: charging is 15% faster, and the dynamics when giving gas jumps by 20%. The biggest triumph, however, is the victory over the cold. In bitter cold of -20°C, the battery retains over 90% of its discharge capacity - a direct answer to skeptics who are worried about the "frozen" mileage in winter.
Safety is also on a completely different level. Composed of 95% solid elements, the battery has a ceramic electrolyte layer that acts as an impenetrable fire barrier. Safety tests border on the extreme: even when pierced with a sharp object or a brutal mechanical press, the cells refuse to ignite. "Safety is not an extra, but a foundation. It is our duty to protect life," concluded scientist Dr. Li Zheng.
MG4 EV and MG4 EV Urban: Two faces, one mission
The new battery will debut in the MG4 EV Urban, which was first shown statically to a European audience in Frankfurt. However, it is important to clarify the schedule: initially the model will be offered with conventional LFP batteries in two capacities. The more modest version has 41.9 kWh (110 kW power), promising 325 km of combined range according to WLTP. The larger sibling with 52.8 kWh offers up to 416 km of range, and in urban conditions the figure can swell to an impressive 602 km. Both variants rely on front-wheel drive and a serially installed heat pump.
The Urban's interior and equipment also impressed us: a 12.8-inch control center, MG Pilot assistant package and even a one-pedal driving function. The seven-year or 150,000 km warranty is a clear signal of the manufacturer's confidence. But the icing on the cake - the semi-solid-state battery version - will arrive in late 2026, and we're yet to learn exactly how it will rewrite the rules for range and power.
Joseph Kaban described the MG4 EV Urban as the elegant counterpoint to the standard MG4 EV. While the familiar model is "edgy", the Urban draws inspiration from the Cyberster roadster - with flowing shapes, refined proportions and a Union Jack integrated into the rear lights. "They are like brothers – same blood, but completely different characters," the famous designer explained to our team.
MG Hybrid+: From milliseconds to microseconds
MG's European offensive continues with hybrids. The Hybrid+ system is not just another combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, but a radical evolution. Engineer Qiu Jie explained that the secret is in the integration. Instead of four separate control units that "talk" clumsily to each other, MG implements everything in a single chip (NCU). Communication is transferred from the millisecond level to the microsecond level.
According to him, on the road this means perfect synchronization. The electric motor acts as a digital damper that instantly "smoothes" the vibrations of the gasoline unit. The result? A velvety smooth ride even under serious load. The hardware includes a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a thermal efficiency of 42% and a powerful 100 kW electric motor, powered by a 1.83 kWh battery on a 350-volt architecture. A 3-speed automatic transmission has been developed especially for European highways, ensuring efficiency even at high speeds on German autobahns.
"In Europe you have the luxury of driving without restrictions on highways, or even when there are, it is not small - this was a huge challenge for us," Qiu Jie admitted with a smile, adding that six years of work had cost him quite a few gray hairs.
MG's strategy is clear: "Mainstream Maverick" - a brand that brings premium technologies to the mass segment without inflating prices. Looking ahead, semi-solid-state batteries will also find a place in hybrid models, which will make the Hybrid+ family (MG3, ZS and HS) even more efficient. Whether these ambitious plans will take over the market, we will find out very soon, because, as we have already informed you, the MG brand has also set foot on home soil, and its plans, as you can see, are quite ambitious. And here is a video showing us the main innovation of MG, with which the brand will attack Europe.