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MANILA, Philippines — SAIC Motor-backed MG Motor Philippines expanded its local electric vehicle lineup late last month with the official launch of the S5 EV, a rear-wheel-drive compact crossover aimed squarely at the country’s growing battery-electric vehicle market.
The debut, held at the TriNoma, a huge mall just north of the capital city of Manila, also served as the launchpad for the brand’s Multiply Greatness Tour 2026. The promotional roadshow is scheduled to visit key regional population centers, including Pampanga in Central Luzon, Laguna in Southern Luzon, and Metro Cebu in the central Philippines.
The new entry represents a push by MG to capture volume in the accessible electric utility segment. The crossover joins an established local portfolio that includes the Cyberster roadster, MG4 Urban EV, G50 PHEV, RX9 PHEV, HS PHEV, MG3 Hybrid+, and ZS Hybrid+.
Built on SAIC’s Modular Scalable Platform, the S5 EV utilizes a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture. Power comes from a single permanent-magnet synchronous motor generating 170 metric horsepower (125 kW / 168 hp) and 250 Newton-meters (184 lb-ft) of torque. Energy storage relies on a 49-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack, yielding an estimated maximum driving range of 415 kilometers (258 miles) under the NEDC testing cycle.
