RE: MG-TF returns to Longbridge
Wednesday 31st January 2007
MG-TF: made in China, assembled in UKNanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC), the Chinese automaker which bought some of MG Rover Group's assets, has announced that it will resume production of MG cars at the Longbridge plant in the West Midlands. It's almost two years since the last car rolled off the line at the facility -- although the plant's role will be confined to final assembly of parts manufactured in China.
MG-TF returns to Longbridge
But UK will only see final assembly work
MG-TF: made in China, assembled in UK
Since signing the 33-year lease in 2005, NAC MG has moved the majority of the original MG Rover assembly equipment to its all-new plant located in the high-level New Technology Economic Development Zone in Pukou, Nanjing Province, China, said the company.
The company said its mission is to "revive, maintain and develop MG," and that it will start with the manufacture of the MG TF 2-seater sports car for retail in both the UK and China.
The newly established manufacturing line in Nanjing will be responsible for much of the assembly process, but all right-hand drive MG TF roadster customer orders will be subject to final assembly in the revived Longbridge plant.
According to NAC, "the re-opening of the Birmingham-based plant will bring a welcome boost to the local economy, employing many former MG Rover workers who will provide valuable product knowledge and skills".
Production resumes production in spring 2007, with full specification and further information to be announced later.
Discussion
I'm delighted to hear that news - and I bet some of the potential Longbridge staff are too. I hope they are motivated to extend this to the MG/Rover 75 model which in my view is an ageless design that could be re-launched anytime, but perhaps their rights don't cover this intellectual property?
It's a disgrace.
The whole MG Rover (and TVR) debacle just shows how much the government doesn't give a flying
about British manufacturing. I believe back in 2005 MG Rover wanted 100 million from the government, which in the end was turned down. The Chinese investors bolted and the company folded to allow the Chinese to come back and buy all the manufacturing processes for nothing.
We end up with several thousand loyal employees out of work and then the Chinese come back with this.
The dealer network has either collapsed or have moved onto selling other marques, the British public is pretty much disillusioned with the whole MG Rover image and they are going to sell a car that wa sessentially designed fifteen years ago.
I am a fan of MG and I would love for them to do well, but I feel it is too little, far too late.
Could you imagine this happening in France or Germany? Their governments would do everthing to protect their manufacturing interests.
Of course I haven't even mentioned the serious mismanagement of the company...
(edited for pants spelling. which is still probably pants)
The whole MG Rover (and TVR) debacle just shows how much the government doesn't give a flying
about British manufacturing. I believe back in 2005 MG Rover wanted 100 million from the government, which in the end was turned down. The Chinese investors bolted and the company folded to allow the Chinese to come back and buy all the manufacturing processes for nothing. We end up with several thousand loyal employees out of work and then the Chinese come back with this.
The dealer network has either collapsed or have moved onto selling other marques, the British public is pretty much disillusioned with the whole MG Rover image and they are going to sell a car that wa sessentially designed fifteen years ago.
I am a fan of MG and I would love for them to do well, but I feel it is too little, far too late.
Could you imagine this happening in France or Germany? Their governments would do everthing to protect their manufacturing interests.
Of course I haven't even mentioned the serious mismanagement of the company...
(edited for pants spelling. which is still probably pants)
Edited by bob1179 on Wednesday 31st January 12:28
The story isnt 100% accurate either.
Whilst they are using mainly parts shipped in from China, they are currently still using locally sourced panels etc.
The only problem being that they've been sat outside for a year getting rusty...... but thats OK because they have a team of blokes with sandpaper to remove the rust before they're welded together
Whilst they are using mainly parts shipped in from China, they are currently still using locally sourced panels etc.
The only problem being that they've been sat outside for a year getting rusty...... but thats OK because they have a team of blokes with sandpaper to remove the rust before they're welded together
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this so-called venture were to fall flat on its face.
Putting aside the basic age of the design (which may not matter since the F and TF were always popular), I don't wish to appear jingoistic but I doubt the Chinese have the first inkling how to properly market a British sportscar, or indeed any vehicle suited to the European market. If they did, they would have seen the benefit of buying MGR as a going concern rather than picking through the mess (check out that "Roewe" debacle that is SAIC's new brand).
People in this country aren't going to buy a 'British' car that's no more British than Greg Rusedski (which we have all made very very clear already to Mr Smolenski). And Europeans probably won't buy from an unknown quantity with no heritage.
My bet is that within three years you will only be able to buy an MG in China...
JJ
Putting aside the basic age of the design (which may not matter since the F and TF were always popular), I don't wish to appear jingoistic but I doubt the Chinese have the first inkling how to properly market a British sportscar, or indeed any vehicle suited to the European market. If they did, they would have seen the benefit of buying MGR as a going concern rather than picking through the mess (check out that "Roewe" debacle that is SAIC's new brand).
People in this country aren't going to buy a 'British' car that's no more British than Greg Rusedski (which we have all made very very clear already to Mr Smolenski). And Europeans probably won't buy from an unknown quantity with no heritage.
My bet is that within three years you will only be able to buy an MG in China...
JJ
Goochie said:
The only problem being that they've been sat outside for a year getting rusty...... but thats OK because they have a team of blokes with sandpaper to remove the rust before they're welded together
That's a good thing in some ways. Assuming that they galvanise the panels, the zinc will bond better to a slightly corroded surface to one that's brand new and shiny. In theory they should be better rust proofed because of it.
Goochie said:
But the TF only has to share its market with the MX5 and Tigra. Young, single, career women who know little about cars and will buy one because it looks nice.
Its a good point.. Will the MG-TF (or whatever it will be called) actually be marketed towards true 'Petrolheads'? i doubt it.
If its cheap enough to offer a real alternative to the MX5 and Tigra then i'm sure it will sell but the likes of you and I pistonheads wont be the target audience.
Anyway, yes the situation is crap but you never know if this works out succesfull they may increase production a bit and widen the model range which can only be good for the local community around Longbridge.
hut49 said:
I'm delighted to hear that news - and I bet some of the potential Longbridge staff are too. I hope they are motivated to extend this to the MG/Rover 75 model which in my view is an ageless design that could be re-launched anytime, but perhaps their rights don't cover this intellectual property?
I thought thatthe 75 bwas bought by SAIC?
That will become the Roewe 750 at some point and not built/ assembled/ polished at longbridge.
I think there is still some debate as to who owns the MG brand.
BMW recently tried to sell it
A Dutch guy who was the MG distributor says he bought it from MG a year or so ago
MG Rover may not have actually owned the brand in the first place, but were allowed to rent it off of BMW who kept ownership
What did SAIC actually buy, what did MG Rover own?
What did Nanging buy? Who owns the MG brand?
What a mess!
Goochie said:
But the TF only has to share its market with the MX5 and Tigra. Young, single, career women who know little about cars and will buy one because it looks nice.
Or TD 2000, Lobini, elise, SportKa, Pug CC, Nissan Micra CC, Mitsubishi CC, the new AC, Morgan 4/4, PGO Cevennes. or even a stout pair of walking shoes!
Not enough people bought a Rover when it was built to the best that britain could do.
Who the hell is going to buy a Chinese restyled version of a 15 tear old car made in China and stiched together by a bunch of depressed former Rover workers who will probable be the ones who didn't get other jobs in the last year or move away from the area.
No one is going to leave their hard won new job to go back to Longbridge are they?
And Longbridge!
WHY?
Its a hole! The only reason for going back their is to keep the cast that the Gov't gave Nanging to keep a light on!
Farce ! total farce!
Tony screwed us all again!
And How much has the gov't paid out in dole money and other social services rather that invest in MG R in the first place?
Edited by odyssey2200 on Wednesday 31st January 14:30
Edited by odyssey2200 on Wednesday 31st January 14:31
Goochie said:
There is a TF Coupe floating around too but the design is owned by another company all together.
in its death throws Rover actually turned out some nice looking models ( or pictures of)
they even rebadged a SsangYong Rexton to try to convince the dealers they had a 4x4 on the way
I know cos I sold it to them!
odyssey2200 said:
Goochie said:
But the TF only has to share its market with the MX5 and Tigra. Young, single, career women who know little about cars and will buy one because it looks nice.
Or TD 2000, Lobini, elise, SportKa, Pug CC, Nissan Micra CC, Mitsubishi CC, the new AC, Morgan 4/4, PGO Cevennes. or even a stout pair of walking shoes!
Exactly Odyssey! We're all petrolheads who care where a car is made, who owns the company and how old the design is. Most of the public will look at it, like it, see it says MG on it and assuming the price is right, will still buy it. Agreed some will be aware of the state of the company and be put off but many people don't see cars the we do.
Also, I doubt the Elise, Morgan 4/4 were ever competitors for the MG and despite being a petrolhead I have no idea what a TD 2000, PGO Cevennes or Lobini are! Well, with the possible exception of the Lobini.
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