MG, BYD, and the wider Chinese EV market all made headlines at the end of July and start of August 2026. MG says its new MG 07 electric liftback drew more than 21,000 refundable reservations within 20 hours of pre-sales opening on July 29, prompting an urgent push to expand production ahead of its August launch. At the same time, BYD is dealing with an escalating public dispute over third-party Blade Battery 2.0 temperature testing, while July delivery data shows just how intense competition has become across China’s fast-moving EV sector.
MG 07 gets a strong start before launch
MG is positioning the new MG 07 as a serious contender in China’s crowded electric sedan and liftback market. According to company executives cited by Chinese media, the model received over 21,000 reservations in its first 20 hours after pre-sales began on July 29, 2026.
That headline number matters, but it also needs context:
- These are refundable reservations, not final sales
- The car has not officially launched yet
- Customer deliveries are expected in Q3 2026
- MG’s immediate priority is reportedly ramping production capacity rather than celebrating reservation totals
Pre-sale pricing ranges from 125,900 yuan to 168,900 yuan (about USD 18,600 to USD 24,500), putting the MG 07 in an aggressive price band for Chinese buyers shopping for sleek EV sedans and liftbacks.
MG brand general manager Chen Cui said the company is now focused on output. That is a telling signal: in China’s EV market, early demand can quickly become a problem if manufacturing cannot keep pace.
SAIC wants the MG 07 to challenge segment leaders
SAIC executives are aiming high. The company says it wants the MG 07 to become China’s best-selling model in the four-door coupe segment, where it is being positioned against cars such as the Xiaomi SU7 and Xpeng Mona M03.
That is an ambitious target. Xiaomi alone delivered 80,496 SU7 sedans in the first half of 2026, highlighting the scale MG is trying to reach.
MG’s recent brand momentum provides some support for that confidence. According to China EV DataTracker figures cited in reporting:
- MG sold 20,122 passenger vehicles in June 2026 in China
- That was up 14.5% month-on-month
- And up 187.1% year-on-year
- MG held 1.2% of China’s passenger vehicle market in June
The bigger story is that SAIC appears to be trying to rebuild domestic relevance for MG not just with exports or entry-level EVs, but with a more aspirational, technology-focused product.
MG 07 specs show a serious technology play
Beyond the reservation count, the MG 07’s technical package is arguably the more important story. The car rides on SAIC’s Nebula modular platform and uses rear-wheel drive across both versions, a layout that should appeal to buyers looking for more engaging dynamics than the average front-drive mainstream EV.
MG 07 key specifications
| Specification | MG 07 400 V | MG 07 800 V |
|---|---|---|
| Motor output | 176 kW (239 hp) | 235 kW (320 hp) |
| Battery | 67 kWh semi-solid-state | CATL ternary lithium |
| Drive layout | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| CLTC range | 610-650 km | Up to 845 km |
| Charging architecture | 400 V | 800 V |
| Fast charging | Not highlighted | 5C charging |
Dimensions
| Measurement | MG 07 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,886 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,478 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,825 mm |
| Body style | Five-door liftback |
Several details stand out:
- The 800 V version is the halo model, with up to 845 km CLTC range
- 5C charging capability suggests very fast charging potential under the right conditions
- The 67 kWh semi-solid-state battery in the 400 V version is notable because semi-solid-state chemistry remains a major talking point in China’s battery race
- MG says the car uses an 18-in-1 electric drive assembly, integrating the motor, inverter, reduction gearbox, and power distribution components
That integrated e-drive approach fits a broader China EV trend: reducing component count, improving packaging, and pushing scale efficiencies across multiple vehicle programs.
Why the MG 07 matters in SAIC’s broader strategy
The MG 07 is more than just another launch. It reflects how incumbent Chinese automakers are responding to pressure from newer EV-native brands and consumer electronics-backed entrants.
In the past two years, the market narrative has often centered on companies like:
- Xiaomi EV
- Xpeng
- Nio
- Zeekr
- Li Auto
- Huawei-backed HIMA brands
SAIC, despite its scale, has sometimes looked less exciting domestically than some of those newer challengers. A model like the MG 07 gives it a chance to compete on design, platform sophistication, charging speed, and headline range rather than relying only on legacy volume.
If MG can convert reservation interest into sustained deliveries, the 07 could become one of the more important launches in SAIC’s 2026 domestic lineup.
BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 controversy keeps growing
While MG is talking about output and product positioning, BYD is facing a very different kind of spotlight.
A public dispute over testing of the company’s second-generation Blade Battery has intensified after automotive blogger Cai Shen Dao said BYD filed a police report against him in Shanghai. As of the latest reporting, neither BYD nor Shanghai Songjiang police had publicly confirmed the filing status or whether a formal investigation had been opened.
The dispute traces back to a May 2026 livestreamed fast-charging test of a Fangchengbao Tai 3 equipped with Blade Battery 2.0.
Key figures from the disputed test
- Charging session: 8% to 97% state of charge
- Number of external probes: 5
- Peak measured surface temperature: 76.42°C
- BMS-displayed temperature: about 71.0°C
- Maximum difference between measurements: about 6.5°C
The central technical issue is not whether a battery became unsafe during the stream; reporting explicitly notes the test did not establish battery failure or thermal runaway. Instead, the disagreement centers on methodology:
- Cai’s team measured localized external cell-surface temperatures
- The vehicle’s BMS reports system monitoring data from the production battery pack
- Those two data points are not necessarily directly comparable
That distinction is critical. Battery temperature measurement is highly sensitive to sensor location, thermal pathways, cooling design, and whether the reading refers to cell surface, cell interior, coolant interface, or pack-level control logic.
Teardown claims added fuel to the BYD debate
The controversy expanded after Cai’s team performed a destructive teardown of a Blade Battery 2.0 pack that had reportedly been frozen for about 40 hours before disassembly.
According to the published observations, the pack:
- Used 170 cells connected in series
- Featured a grid-like reinforcement structure
- Used direct refrigerant cooling
- Weighed about 572 kg
- Had an estimated 73.6% pack integration efficiency
Those are interesting engineering details, but there is an important caveat. Once a battery pack has been cut open, ground down, and mechanically dismantled over roughly eight hours, it no longer reflects factory-sealed operating conditions. Adhesives, cooling interfaces, insulation, and structural integrity are all altered.
That makes the episode less useful as a verdict on BYD’s production battery safety and more useful as a case study in how battery claims can become distorted when social media testing, teardown content, brand reputation, and regulation collide.
China’s July 2026 delivery rankings show the competitive backdrop
These MG and BYD stories are unfolding against a market that continues to post enormous volumes. July 2026 delivery data from automakers compiled by CnEVPost shows just how fierce the competition is.
Major automaker deliveries in China, July 2026
| Automaker | July 2026 deliveries |
|---|---|
| BYD | 419,211 |
| Chery Group | 276,820 |
| Geely Auto | 250,161 |
| SAIC-GM-Wuling | 120,050 |
| Leapmotor | 101,267 |
| Huawei HIMA | 45,046 |
| Xpeng | 38,027 |
| Nio | 35,934 |
| Zeekr | 35,837 |
| Li Auto | 30,468 |
| Xiaomi EV | 30,000 |
| Deepal | 29,213 |
| Arcfox | 25,074 |
| Voyah | 13,189 |
| Avatr | 7,626 |
| Volkswagen Anhui | 2,149 |
A few points stand out from this table:
- BYD remains the volume leader by a huge margin at 419,211 units
- Chery Group and Geely Auto continue to demonstrate major scale
- Leapmotor’s 101,267 units underline how quickly value-focused EV players are growing
- Xiaomi EV’s 30,000 deliveries show the market impact of the SU7’s momentum
- Premium and technology-heavy brands such as Nio, Zeekr, and Xpeng are still battling intensely in the mid-volume range
For MG, this context matters. Winning attention in China is hard; turning that attention into sustained volume is even harder.
Why This Matters
Three separate themes are converging in China’s EV market.
1. Product speed now matters as much as product specs
The MG 07’s early reservation total shows there is still room for a well-priced, high-spec electric liftback. But in China, strong launch buzz means little without fast production ramp-up and reliable delivery execution.
2. Battery credibility is becoming a public battleground
The BYD Blade Battery 2.0 dispute shows how battery technology is no longer discussed only in engineering labs or investor decks. It is now debated in livestreams, on social media, in teardown videos, and potentially through regulatory or legal channels.
3. Scale is compressing the market
With BYD above 419,000 July deliveries and multiple automakers posting tens of thousands of units per month, China’s EV market is increasingly defined by manufacturing depth, supply-chain efficiency, and cost discipline. Brands that cannot scale quickly may struggle even if they have a compelling product.
Global Implications
For overseas observers, these developments offer a window into where the global EV industry is heading.
- Fast-charging and 800 V systems are becoming mainstream in China far faster than in many Western markets
- Battery chemistry innovation, including semi-solid-state and advanced pack integration, is moving from prototype talk to mass-market positioning
- Public scrutiny of battery performance and safety claims is intensifying, which could influence future standards for testing transparency
- Chinese automakers are sharpening segmentation, with products tailored very precisely by body style, tech stack, and price band
The MG 07 also highlights a broader export-era question: if Chinese brands can deliver this level of specification and pricing at home, global competitors will face increasing pressure on both cost and technology.
What to watch next
Over the coming weeks, several questions will determine whether these stories become turning points or just short-term headlines:
- Can MG convert its 21,000-plus reservations into meaningful deliveries after the official August launch?
- Will SAIC expand production quickly enough to avoid long wait times?
- How will the market respond to the MG 07’s claimed 845 km CLTC range and 5C charging in real-world use?
- Will BYD publicly clarify the status of the reported police filing and address the testing methodology debate in more detail?
- Can any rival narrow BYD’s delivery lead as China’s EV market enters the second half of 2026?
For now, the takeaway is clear: China’s EV industry remains the most dynamic automotive market in the world. MG is trying to seize momentum with an aggressively positioned new liftback, BYD is defending its battery reputation under intense scrutiny, and the monthly delivery scoreboard shows that the fight for scale is only getting tougher.
