Longbridge gears up for 50,000
The iconic MG TF sports car and other models could be rolling off the Longbridge production line at the rate of 50,000 a year within two years, it was revealed today.
The iconic MG TF sports car and other models could be rolling off the Longbridge production line at the rate of 50,000 a year within two years, it was revealed today.
And the number of people employed at the West Midlands site could rise from 140 today to between 500 and 800 by the end of next year.
The news came as it was announced that the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of production of sports cars was planned for Tuesday May 29 – but that it would take some time after that date to properly ramp up assembly.
The announcement came from Chinese carmaker Nanjing Automobile Corporation, which bought MG Rover for £53 million when the British car giant collapsed two years ago years ago this week.
The Chinese owner, which began producing MG cars at its home city last month, also said it plans to develop a "very good sports car that would fit in with the brand" by 2009, according to its top executive in the UK.
"Within two years we would like to get our market share back, and get good products with a UK focus," said Wang Hongbiao, chairman of NAC (UK).
Production at Longbridge – much of the site is being demolished and redeveloped – will resume next month and reach the "lower thousands" this year, hitting the 25,000 mark in 2008.
Nanjing has invested around £250 million in the MG project so far, including its Chinese factory which has the capacity to produce 200,000 cars.
The Longbridge operation will source some parts in China for the UK-made MGs, including engines and gearboxes.
Mr Wang also said that plans to licence assembly of MG cars in North America – at Ardmore in Oklahoma – were progressing well, altghough NAC had not yet signed an agreement.
But in China NAC has lagged behind competitors such as Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, which bought the rights to former Rover models after the Longbridge failure.
In China Mr Wang said MG was considering replacing the MG TF's soft top with a hard top to take into account weather and pollution.
"We are taking traditions from the British and positioning it as a Chinese model," he said.
