Production of MG cars to resume at Longbridge

Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation (NAC), the Chinese automaker which purchased certain assets of the former MG Rover Group, has announced that production of MG cars is to resume at the Longbridge plant in the West Midlands, UK, nearly two years since the last car rolled off the line at the facility.

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. The company’s mission to “revive, maintain and develop MG,” 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.

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. NAC MG are planning to resume production in the Spring, 2007.

Full specification and further information on the MG TF model will be announced in due course.