The Maestro van was made in China until around 2002 by Etsong. Etsong being a tobacco producer, didnt really have the nessercery knowledge to make cars, or the will to do so and soon sold their car making assets onto FAW. FAW werent really interested in making a nearly 30 year old car, so they soon put a stop to it after taking over. The factory appears to have changed hands again, this time to GM-Wuling. The Maestro has been out of production for a few years, but a plucky Chengdu based company has started up production again, putting a certain amount of truth into the phrase ‘you cannot keep class down‘
Chengdu YeMa (Lit: Wildhorse), a coach/bus builder, has put the Maestro van back into production, with a few cosmetic updates; notably, bull bars front and back. The Maestro van was turned into an MPV by FAW (I believe).
The latest incarnation of that Maestro van does not use the A or O series engines from MG-Rover, instead, the Austin van has been equipped with a 1.5 engine from the Chinese engine manufacturer Jiangsu Rui An, the 1.5 lump produces 65kw of power.
We’ve heard pricing will start from 100k RMB, but that seems like a lot of money for a car of its age, although the pedigree behind it surely would make it almost worthwhile?
I was interested in your article as I was Manfg. Director at Etsong July 1999 to Nov 2000. When I left we actually had built very good “engineering stage “vehicles, but due to a disagreement over vehicle quality/organisation, I resigned.
I was the only Director/Manager with any automotive experience and the only non-Chinese Director but there were some very good people. My assistant and various engineers at the factory just needed development and encouragement. Many have gone overseas to Detroit/Paris and been very successful, or joined other companies.
I actually ran an “English Club“ each lunch time to improve spoken English
I believe that the Maestro could have been very successfully built at Qingdao, at the right price, at the right quality.
With the right decisions being made.
All sounds so very familiar.
I think they used to say the same things at Rover towards the end.
It just amazes me that there are still Chinese companies out there who are willing to buy up old tooling and technology on the belief that they can actually make a go of it. The country is littered with hundreds of companies who have tried and failed. How many times have we read about a new unknown car manufacturer with great plans to start up and after the 1st year projecting an annual volume of 200,000 vehicles and then only make about 500 and sold only 50 of them. Sure there are some great asuccess stories out there. Chery Auto being one of them.
GM Wuling who are now occupying the old Etsong site some years ago they copied the Citreon Visa. A few actually made it on to the road but the project just withered and died a natural death without ever getting started.
Just for your records Ash.
GM Wuling moved production of their old series minivan up from Liuzhou to the Etsong plant back in November 2005.
I was actually working at the Liuzhou plant at the time. We needed to free up some space for the new Wuling Sunshine minivan that was coming on stream in 2006.
Allen,
I have many questions for you! Would you be willing to answer? Any photos you would like to share?
I once saw a ‘modified’ Etsong Maestro go past me (I should say fly) which made me feel like I was in England! Black carbon bonnet with blue headlights!
Just to confirm what may have been misunderstandings from MR Malseed:
1
I would just like to clear up afew points regarding the Qingdao plant
1
No problem
Allen
Sorry, PC problem!!
For Mr Malseed,the Qingdao plant had no relevance to Rover, there was no Rover involvement at any stage.Just also to mention Rover was owned by BMW at this time, they also were not involved.
Yes then,companies did think just building a plant meant success but we are talking about 1999 and I assume thinking has changed.(it needed to)
The commitment and excellence of certain staff applied to Chinese nationals, I was the only “foreigner“
The business plan did not assume a volume of 200,000.
The main problem in 2000 was a difference in perception of Chinese acceptable quality and what was really required. Again one would hope that now their perception/control is more in line with world best practice…but I have my doubts having not been there since 2000. Having recently seen some of the production parts received by OEE`s that have been outsourced to China, would indicate to me they still have a lot of improvements to make to their manufacturing processes and control of those processes.
I hope that clears any misunderstanding regarding generalisation.
Allen
Yes Allen, I was aware that there was no connection between Etsong and Rover as it was then back in 2000. Back then it was the vogue to buy up old western tooling and technology and try to make a go of it. Back then you could have pulled it off but now consumers demand the latest technology, style and safety in a car. Not so easy now for the plucky adventurous cashed up company which is why I find it strange that the Maestro is about to see a new life in Chengdu.
I might be wrong. Take a good look at what is on offer in China right now and this van does fill a gap which is currently only occupied by the GM Opel Corsa based Combi Van that I am aware of. So with the right sort of marketing and some degree of dependability the Maestro van could live again very successfully.
To be fair, its not really a maestro is it, its more of a Montego than anything else!
i have had a maestro tandy for ten years been off the road for two years and will be seen as from monday back on the english roads love it to bits
Doing an MPV off the Maestro Van was nothing new. Even Rover considered doing a small Discovery sister vehicle, using that same philosophy around 1990.
the sketches are included here:
http://www.shado.co.uk/portfolio/design.php?id=39
Steve
The hatchback and van vition can seen in Wuxi city (Jiangsu province)now.