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Cars and jobs could return to Longbridge
A THREE year wait has ended with the announcement car production at Longbridge is to finally relaunch in less than three months.
Chinese owners SAIC/Nanjing Automobile Corporation have confirmed the two-seater MGTF sports cars will roll off production lines from August 1, with a further four new models built over the next five years.
There has been speculation surrounding the project, including rumours it was to be scaled down, but the Chinese owners have now provided the first definite date since they bought MG Rover's assets, in July 2005.
The first vehicles off the production line, 500 limited edition TF LE500 sports cars, will be in showrooms in September. Following this, the plant will then build standard models of the MGTF, which were in production prior to MG Rover's collapse, before work starts on a replacement for the car. This week, it is expected the MGTF sports sports car will launch in China, paving the way for a British relaunch.
Nanjing say the new models are likely to include a large luxury family car and 57 dealers were already signed up to sell the cars, mostly in the UK. It is believed many of these were former MG showrooms which moved onto to selling other car makes, following the firm's collapse.
Around 6,000 jobs were lost when MG Rover collapsed in April 2005.
SAIC/Nanjing released a statement commenting in 2008, desirable competitive sports cars will once again be rolling off production lines at Longbridge, a sight many thought they might not see again.
Councillor Richard Deeming (Con-Hillside) said: "I am very pleased to hear production will be returning. It has been difficult times. Hopefully production will now stay at the Longbridge site."
5:06pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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