MG Motor India has expanded its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership programme to the Cyberster electric roadster and M9 luxury MPV. The new structure lowers the upfront price of both EVs, while customers pay a fixed battery rental of Rs 8 per kilometre.
Under the BaaS programme, the MG Cyberster is available from Rs 72.49 lakh, ex-showroom, plus the battery rental. This represents a reduction of Rs 10 lakh compared with its regular purchase price.
The MG M9 also gets a lower entry price through the scheme. Its BaaS price starts at Rs 69.99 lakh, ex-showroom, along with the Rs 8 per kilometre battery rental. That is Rs 5 lakh lower than its regular price.
The programme changes how customers pay for the battery, separating part of the EV’s upfront cost from the vehicle itself.
Cyberster
The MG Cyberster is an electric roadster that combines a two-seat sports-car layout with distinctive styling inspired by MG’s heritage.
One of its most noticeable features is its electric scissor doors. The cabin uses a cockpit-style design, while the powertrain features two electric motors driving all four wheels.
The dual-motor setup produces 503bhp and 725Nm of torque. MG claims a driving range of up to 580km, although real-world range can vary depending on factors such as driving conditions, speed, weather and use of climate control.
With BaaS, the Cyberster’s lower initial price could make its ownership structure different from a conventional EV purchase, where the battery cost is included in the vehicle’s upfront price.
M9
The MG M9 takes a very different approach from the Cyberster. It is a luxury electric MPV designed primarily around passenger comfort and rear-seat experience.
Its second-row lounge seats offer 16-way adjustment along with heating, ventilation and eight massage modes. These features are complemented by a dual sunroof and 64-colour ambient lighting.
The cabin also includes a 13-speaker audio system, adding to the vehicle’s focus on premium passenger comfort.
For buyers considering a luxury electric MPV, the BaaS programme reduces the initial purchase price by Rs 5 lakh compared with the regular price.
Battery
The main difference between BaaS and conventional EV ownership is how the battery is paid for.
Under the BaaS structure described by MG, the battery is separated from the upfront vehicle purchase price. Instead, customers pay a usage-based rental of Rs 8 for every kilometre driven.
This means the actual running cost from the battery rental depends on how much the vehicle is driven.
| Model | BaaS price | Battery rental | Upfront reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG Cyberster | Rs 72.49 lakh | Rs 8/km | Rs 10 lakh |
| MG M9 | Rs 69.99 lakh | Rs 8/km | Rs 5 lakh |
For example, driving 10,000km would result in Rs 80,000 in battery rental under the stated Rs 8-per-kilometre rate. A customer driving 20,000km would pay Rs 1.6 lakh in battery rental for that distance.
Therefore, buyers need to consider both the lower initial price and their expected annual driving distance when comparing the BaaS structure with outright ownership.
Safety
The M9 comes with several safety and driver-assistance features. These include Level 2 ADAS and seven airbags.
The luxury MPV has also received five-star safety ratings from Euro NCAP and ANCAP, according to the information provided.
These ratings and features add to the M9’s positioning as a premium family vehicle rather than simply an electric people carrier.
The Cyberster, meanwhile, is aimed at a different type of buyer, with its focus on performance, styling and open-top sports-car characteristics.
Centres
MG currently operates 15 MG Select centres across 14 cities in India.
The Select network is focused on the brand’s premium vehicles, giving customers access to models such as the Cyberster and M9 through dedicated retail locations.
The expansion of BaaS to these two vehicles gives buyers another way to structure the cost of ownership. Instead of paying the full battery cost upfront, customers can pay according to kilometres driven.
Ownership
The BaaS programme can make the initial purchase price of an expensive EV substantially lower. For the Cyberster, the Rs 10 lakh reduction is particularly notable, while the M9 gets a Rs 5 lakh reduction.
However, the lower upfront price should not be viewed as the total cost of ownership. The Rs 8-per-kilometre battery rental continues to apply based on usage, so customers should consider their expected mileage over the period they intend to keep the vehicle.
For buyers who drive relatively less, the structure may result in lower usage-linked battery payments. Those covering higher annual distances would accumulate more rental charges.
MG’s decision to extend BaaS to the Cyberster and M9 gives customers an alternative to traditional EV pricing. The two models occupy very different segments, but both now offer a lower upfront entry point in exchange for a per-kilometre battery rental.
