Western Coast MG expands

Western Coast MG in Hawera is not only getting new headquarters there in about 18 months but has new branches opening in New Plymouth and Wanganui – hence the name “Western Coast”.

Dealer principal Jimmi Guillosson says the headquarters on a previous supermarket carpark is likely to cost more than $2 million.

On March 1 this year Western Coast MG expects to open its Wanganui premises on the former Pizza Hut site where it will have a “pop-up” shop presence while the new building is established, that project estimated to cost about $1 million.

It opened a New Plymouth branch late last year.

Guillosson set up Western Coast MG with Craig and Jo Baylis in October 2023 and it has rapidly outgrown the existing premises, with the Hawera project likely to be three times the size of the company’s former Hawera Autocourt property, including a six-vehicle showroom, a five-bay workshop, a valet bay, three customer EV chargers, an area for tyres and wheel alignments, plus mezzanine offices and storage for parts and accessories.

Western Coast MG handles new and used cars, Guillosson estimating the business has about 30 EVs alone.

He drives an MG4 Long Range so knows what charging is like in Taranaki but says more EV chargers are opening.

While new EV sales have quietened since the Clean Car Discount ended on December 31 last year, Guillosson reckons they’ll pick up again soon.

MG car clubs and other overseas groups generally celebrated 100 years of the brand (MG100) last year with New Zealand and Australia joining in this year.