$18,590 Car With 845-Kilometer Range & Lidar — MG 07

MG has unveiled a new electric fastback sedan in China, the MG 07, priced from 125,900 yuan (about $18,590) for the base version. That's notably cheaper than expected. The car comes in five versions, with prices rising to 165,900 yuan for the top trim, and range options of either roughly 600 kilometers or 845 kilometers on a charge. The shorter-range versions launch and start deliveries in late August, while the longer-range 845-kilometer versions won't ship until October.

Four of the five trims include lidar, a laser-based sensor system used for driver-assistance features, making this the first MG model to offer it. The car also has 11 exterior cameras and uses a new driving-assistance system built with tech partner Momenta. For a limited time, the driver-assist features are being offered free, following a pricing approach other Chinese automakers have used. Other touches include reclining "zero-gravity" front passenger seats.

This is a China-market release, not a US or global one, so there's no word here on whether or when the MG 07 might reach American driveways, or what it would cost after import duties. For homeowners thinking about EVs, it's mainly a sign of how fast pricing, range, and tech like lidar are moving in the Chinese EV market. Whether that competition eventually shows up in vehicles available where you live is a separate question, tied to trade rules and each automaker's own market plans.