SAIC and NAC MG officials are reportedly planning to meet up this week to discuss how the two companies plan to merge their UK operations. SAIC took control of the Ricardo 2010 development center (which is now known as the SAIC R&D center) in the UK via a deal with Ricardo in 2007 , and NAC MG have the world famous Longbridge factory located in Birmingham. How the two plan to merge their assets in the UK is of great interest to MG fans the world over, rumors are floating that the sexy Roewe 550 could be badged as the MG5 for the Euro markets, but other sources are saying that Ssangyong will be used to spearhead the Roewe push into Europe. China Car Times would like to see the MG marque flourish again, Ssangyong do make some great cars, but the MG badge has a hundred years of history and brand recognition. Come on SAIC, roll out the MG5!
The below gives information on the SAIC/NAC plans to meet up and finally give some direction to the European production of Chinese cars, hopefully ending the MG wilderness years.
Chinese to decide UK factory’s future
Nanjing–SAIC must decide on models, volumes at Longbridge plantTony Lewin
Automotive News Europe
February 6, 12:57 CETA high-level delegation of executives from Shanghai Automobile Industry Corp. is in the UK this week to discuss the integration of its local operations with those of Nanjing Automobile.
SAIC took over Nanjing late last year. The deal has delayed Nanjing’s planned restart of production at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge, central England.
No cars have been assembled there since the factory’s grand reopening in May last year. Nanjing got control of the factory in 2005 when it bought the assets of MG Rover, which collapsed because of financial problems.
The Shanghai Auto delegation will meet Nanjing managers at Longbridge and visit SAIC’s own vehicle development base at nearby Leamington Spa, said an official close to Nanjing.
The executives will decide on the carmaker’s future model policy for Europe and determine which models will be assembled at the Longbridge factory. Nanjing’s plans for the plant have never been truly clear beyond the promise to build a limited volume of the MG TF roadster.
‘Crucial time’
One executive close to the process was optimistic that a decision on future models and production volumes would result from the delegation’s visit.
” Now is a fairly crucial time in the process,” he told Automotive News Europe.
Up to three volume models could be built at the Longbridge plant, Eleanor de la Haye, Nanjing’s Longbridge spokeswoman, said.
Last month, SAIC Motor President Chen Hong said SAIC aims to restore production of original MG models in Longbridge soon. It also plans new MG models for Europe, he said.
“The British business will become SAIC’s new platform for overseas markets and a window for SAIC to Europe.”
In 2005, Nanjing beat SAIC in a bidding war for MG Rover. Soon after the acquisition Nanjing started looking for a financial partner to help it relaunch Longbridge production. Industry observers said Nanjing did not have the financial resources to revive volume production at the plant.
Car production started in Longbridge in 1905. At its height in the 1960s the factory was one of Europe’s biggest plants, building more than 360,000 Austin, Morris and MG cars annually.
MG5 is the way to go!!!
Are we talking the same MG5 that was the MG ZS, teh Rover 45, the Rover 400 and some dodgy Honda before it? The same one with it’s chassis set in the late 80’s early 90’s? If this is the way to go then we’re all doomed!!
No. Honda own the rights to that product - and removed tooling from Longbridge to prevent it getting into either SAIC of NAC’s hands.
The car being referred to here is the Roewe 550, also displayed at motorshows as the Roewe W2, and possibly built on the modified Rover 75 platform that was developed for the stillborn MG-Rover RD/X-60 programme.
I heard from a little bird that NAC dont own the MGZS blueprints (although its just a 45), they could just make the 45 and stick a spoiler on it though - but what good would that be?
NAC MG ‘revealed’ the MG5 at the Shanghai car show last year apperently it was just to gauge the publics interest, and we hear there was quite a bit of it. Would they release the ZS in China? Maybe! It still looks reasonbly modern and with a decent range of colors it could become a popular car with younger lads that usually buy the SouEast Lioncel cars
http://www.chinacartimes.com/wp-content/2007/09/lancer.jpg
The Chinese press say the MG5 would be around 160,000rmb, in my opinion this is far too high, 100 to 120k would win it many buyers though!
So are we saying the MG5 is a reworked Roewe 550 then? I was sure that somewhere the MG5 was shown as a reworked MG ZS. Would someone like to shed some light on what the MG5 is.
I mean, without the History of Rover, MG had no History..
So, they sold MG under MG Badge and Roewe, because it is now only the R with two lions as Rover in Europe…
In the History, allways MG is a Tuner of Rover Cars…why they change the History ?
An rover is an Rover, and not a MG….
Rover and MG can sold different Modells, but one sold different Modells and the other nothing…thats not the Real History
That`s the meaning from a Driver, from a ROver 400, Rover 45 and a MG ZR
i believe that they must sell rover brand in europe. this brand has lot of history and really good models, like MG. also in my opinion it is the first time this brand is going to stay in europe. they are going to spenr lots of money in Advertisemts and we know that there are lots of people in europe that will buy a ROVER intead of buying a ROEWE in spite of the bankrupt.
SAIC are not permitted to use the Rover name, hence, Roewe.
Ford own the Rover name. The bought it from BMW in 2006
hmm… at least SAIC is caring about quality.
But presumably the Rover name has now gone to Tata with Land Rover?