MG to enter pickup wars in PH with T90 Extender?

MG isn't exactly the first brand that comes to mind when it comes to pickups. But much like Changan, BYD, GWM, JAC and other car makes from China, it looks like they’re looking to dip their toes in the segment.

SAIC Motor Philippines has received regulatory approval for a new diesel-powered light-duty vehicle with an engine displacement of 1996cc, which translates to a pickup truck powered by a 2.0-liter turbodiesel.

Upon looking at what MG is offering in other markets, that led us to the Extender pickup truck. Powered by the aforementioned 2.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-four, it makes 161 PS and 375 Nm of torque. There’s a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission in the Thai market, and 4WD is available on higher-grade models.

Moreover, the T90 Extender could also have the higher output turbodiesel under its hood, as the D90 previewed in the country was putting out 215 PS and 400 Nm of torque coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The T90 Extender is no spring chicken as it’s already on sale in the Thai market since 2021 as a rebadged Maxus product. As mentioned, it is closely related to the MG D90 SUV that was previewed at MIAS, and could feature similar styling elements both inside and out.

With more and more Chinese brands rolling out pickup trucks in the market, this year could see a more competitive segment as buyers are spoiled with choices for pickup trucks, whether you want it in diesel or hybrid.