Longbridge MG TF Plans Shattered
Fears MG production at plant will never restart
Nanjing unveiled a spruced up TF
Main supplier Stadco has apparently decided to stop manufacturing body-shells for the TF, affectively sounding the ‘death knell’ for the fragile project.
After it bought MG Rover it had been hoped that Nanjing would open up the assembly lines at Longbridge.
But one source has told local media that it is now doubtful whether Nanjing parent SAIC will ever produce cars at Longbridge.
He said the chances of the factory producing MGs was ‘very slim’ and the best the Rover factory could hope for would be a role as a servicing centre.
He pointed out that far more attractive operations had struggled, such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and TVR, and that it would be uneconomical to produce cars at Longbridge.
‘If SAIC/Nanjing thought they could produce cars at Longbridge economically, then I am sure they would,’ he said.
‘But can they do it economically?
‘I cannot see them prepared to spend the sorts of money required. It was always wishful thinking that something would happen. "I accept that some people within Nanjing had intentions to produce. But I have never had the impression they were serious about it.’
If that's the case what do STADCO, who appear to be an American engineering and fabrication company with a UK operation, have to do with the operation?
They bought the Castle Brom Jaguar press shop (See the site off the M6) and (for a while) the LDV press shop.
Most people don't realise most car manufacturers don't make
cars, they mostly assemble bits from other suppliers.
Did you know that Mayflower (Bought out by Stadco) Made MGF bodies on a line next to DB7's in Coventry???
Andy M
Sure it's a shame people lost their jobs, and it's a shame we don't have a car industry any more... but IMO the blame lies with those who decided that selling cars made with parts designed 20 years ago was acceptable.
Sure it's a shame people lost their jobs, and it's a shame we don't have a car industry any more... but IMO the blame lies with those who decided that selling cars made with parts designed 20 years ago was acceptable.
Seriously though, wasn't the projected price for the new MG TF around £20K? There's no way they'd sell any at that price. Spruce up the bodywork and interior and offer base models at £12K and they'd have a decent product.
Really, the MGTF has never been a viable option for NAC to produce, there's virtually no market in China for that kind of car so the chances of them actually setting up a press shop in China to make TF shells is very slim.
Stadco used to supply TF body-in-white assemblies to Rover before they went broke so it would be relatively easy to re-start production if they were on board.
They weren't the cheapest
They weren't the fastest
They weren't the prettiest
They weren't the safest
They weren't the best handling
They weren't the best specc'd
They weren't the most comfortable
Just about any MG Rover had a better alternative at the time from another manufacturer, that scored better on most or all of the above points.
Don't get me wrong guys, I like the look of the last of the MG Rovers, but they just don't excel at anything that makes the majority of petrolheads want to own one. It's a shame!
They weren't the cheapest
They weren't the fastest
They weren't the prettiest
They weren't the safest
They weren't the best handling
They weren't the best specc'd
They weren't the most comfortable
Just about any MG Rover had a better alternative at the time from another manufacturer, that scored better on most or all of the above points.
Don't get me wrong guys, I like the look of the last of the MG Rovers, but they just don't excel at anything that makes the majority of petrolheads want to own one. It's a shame!
They weren't the cheapest
They weren't the fastest
They weren't the prettiest
They weren't the safest
They weren't the best handling
They weren't the best specc'd
They weren't the most comfortable
Just about any MG Rover had a better alternative at the time from another manufacturer, that scored better on most or all of the above points.
Don't get me wrong guys, I like the look of the last of the MG Rovers, but they just don't excel at anything that makes the majority of petrolheads want to own one. It's a shame!
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff