The highly anticipated MG ute has now been spotted in the wild, but the buzz might be tempered by what some are calling a déjà vu design moment. Dubbed the MG P9, this ute is not exactly a ground-breaking original. Instead, it’s essentially a rebadged version of the Terron 9 from LDV, MG’s sister company under the SAIC Motor juggernaut .
Spied on the back of a transport trailer, the MG P9 flaunts its new badge proudly—but not much else differentiates it from its LDV counterpart. A mega MG badge graces the tailgate, while the wheel design gets a subtle makeover. The rest? A near-clone of the Terron 9, right down to its rear-side photo suggesting shared headlight designs with the diesel Terron 9. Even the electric version appears to remain stylistically loyal to its LDV roots .
This isn’t MG’s first rebadging rodeo. The company already sells the MG Extender—a variant of the LDV T60 ute—in South-East Asia. With minor tweaks such as fresh badges, MG has managed to enter competitive markets by leveraging the existing design and engineering of LDV .
But the MG P9 ute isn’t just playing dress-up. It might soon become MG’s first diesel-powered offering across the ditch. If it follows the Terron 9’s recipe, expect a hearty 164kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine in its arsenal. For the eco-conscious, an electric alternative could also be coming, mirroring the LDV eTerron 9’s dual-motor setup with 325kW of power and an impressive 102kWh battery boasting a 430km range (WLTP) .
Internal chatter signals high hopes for the ute. MG executives acknowledge that breaking into the Aussie Top Five sales by 2027, and eventually the Top Three by 2030, is near-impossible without a ute on the roster. MG CEO Peter Ciao shared a candid exchange with SAIC’s chairman: “Without a ute, you can’t achieve Top Three, Top Five. That’s it” .
Timing, however, remains ambiguous. MG hints that the P9 could hit showrooms in 2025, allowing a full sales year by 2026. But executives stress their commitment to quality, promising a well-tested product without shortcuts. “Good things take time,” MG’s Akshat Ahuja remarked, leaving ute enthusiasts yearning for more clarity .
So, is the MG P9 a rebadging gamble or a savvy sales strategy?
