MG Motor
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| Type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder(s) | Cecil Kimber |
| Headquarters | Longbridge, Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Key people | William Wang (Managing Director) |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Operating income |  £11 million (2010) |
| Net income |  £-392,000 (2010) |
| Employees | 300 (2010 average) |
| Parent | SAIC Group |
| Website | www.mg.co.uk |
MG Motor (officially MG Motor UK Limited) is a British car manufacturer owned by SAIC Group and headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It designs, develops, assembles and markets cars sold under the MG marque.
MG Motor operates the historic Longbridge plant. Currently the majority of MG vehicles sold in Europe are principally manufactured in China before being shipped to Longbridge as complete knock-down kits for final assembly. There is also a major research and development facility at the Longbridge site.[1]
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[edit] History
MG Motor UK Ltd was founded on 12 April 2006 as NAC MG UK Limited by the Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC). Following the collapse of MG Rover in 2005, NAC had acquired MG Rover's Longbridge plant, and the rights to use the MG marque.[2]
Assembly of cars re-started at Longbridge in August 2007, with production of the MG TF LE500.[3]
In 2007, NAC merged with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC),[4] and in early 2009 NAC MG UK was renamed as MG Motor UK Limited.[5]
The first all new model from MG for 16 years, the MG6, went on sale in May 2011.
[edit] Products
[edit] Current
Currently the majority of MG vehicles are principally manufactured in China before being shipped to Longbridge for final assembly. The new model MG range are based on the Roewe models like MG Rover did with the 25/ZR, 45/ZS, and 75/ZT.
[edit] MG6
The MG6 hatchback was announced in April 2009.[6] It is based on the Roewe 550.
The MG6 went on sale in Europe in May 2011. The model is assembled at Longbridge using complete knock-down kits produced in China.[7]
The MG6 GT received good reviews, although the initial one engine choice (1.8 litre petrol) received some criticism. A 1.9 diesel engine and other engines are planned for 2012. It has also had mixed reviews from some in the media as regards the quality of the lower dash plastics though reviewers say the drive and handling makes up for it.
A saloon version went on sale in July 2011 after making its debut in June 2011. The MG6 saloon has taken the name Magnette and went on sale as the MG6 Magnette.
[edit] Former
[edit] MG TF
The MG brand was relaunched in Britain during 2007. An updated MG TF model produced in a limited edition of 500, called the TF LE500, was assembled at the Longbridge plant by NAC MG UK.[8] This was followed by a TF 135 model and a further limited edition TF 85th Anniversary, of which only 50 were produced.[9] Production of the TF at Longbridge was suspended again in October 2009[10] and finally ended in March 2011.[11] MG have said that they will first concentrate on building "Passenger cars", and have not given a release date for the TF's successor.
[edit] Planned
[edit] MG3
The MG3 originally appeared as the MG3 SW (a car similar to that of the Rover Streetwise) in 2008 but only went on sale in China. In 2010, SAIC unveiled the all new MG3, which was shown in concept car form as the MG Zero. This was later renamed the MG3 again. The car is expected to come with a 1.3L or 1.5L petrol engine and is expected to be launched in 2012 to the UK market. It is also expected to come with a Streetwise styled model called the MG3 Xross.[12]
[edit] MG5
The MG5 is currently in concept stage and was unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show.[13][14] It is a Ford Focus sized hatchback using the same base as the Roewe 350. It is rumored the car will have a 1.5 or 1.8 engine for entry models with a 2013 entry. It is expected to rival the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, and Volkswagen Golf.[15]
[edit] Motorsport
In January 2012 MG Motor announced that it would enter the 2012 British Touring Car Championship through the newly-established MG KX Momentum Racing team.[16] In its debut season the team will run MG6 GT cars driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate. The cars will be prepared by Triple Eight Race Engineering.[16]
[edit] References
- ^ "New £5m MG design studio unveiled at Longbridge site". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10317764. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "New lease of life for Longbridge". BBC. 2006-02-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4739616.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "Production resumes at Longbridge". BBC. 2008-08-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7536527.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ "SAIC merges with Nanjing". CAR Magazine (Bauer Media). 2007-12-28. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/SAIC-merges-with-Nanjing/. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "Longbridge workers laid off". Birmingham Post. 2009-01-21. http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/automotive-business/2009/01/21/longbridge-workers-laid-off-65233-22740642/. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ Holloway, Hilton (2009-04-20). "MG6 to go on sale in the UK". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/239604/. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "China-Developed MG6 Will Be Built in U.K.". Edmund's Inside Line. 2009-11-23. http://www.insideline.com/saic/china-developed-mg6-will-be-built-in-uk.html. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ Bird, Guy (2008-08-29). "MG TF LE500 (2008) CAR review". CAR magazine. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/MG-TF-LE500-2008-CAR-review/. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ "Press Report : MG making 85th Anniversary model at Longbridge". www.aronline.co.uk. AROnline. 2009-08-14. http://www.aronline.co.uk/wordpress/2009/08/14/press-report-mg-making-85th-anniversary-model-at-longbridge/. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ "BBC News: No car production 'until spring'". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC). 2009-10-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8294883.stm. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ "MG 'wants a new sports car'". Autocar. 23 March 2011. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/256098/. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "MG Xross Sighted Out Again". Chinacartimes.com. http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/06/01/mg3-xross-sighted-out-again/. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Shanghai motor show: MG5 Concept". The Telegraph. 19 April 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8461291/Shanghai-motor-show-MG5-Concept.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "MG's Focus rival unveiled in Shanghai". Auto Express. April 2011. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/shanghai-motor-show/266524/mgs_focus_rival_unveiled_in_shanghai.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Shape of MG’s 5 revealed in concept". Carandvannews.co.uk. 2011-04-08. http://carandvannews.co.uk/2011/04/08/shape-of-mg%E2%80%99s-5-revealed-in-concept/. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ a b "MG makes a return to racing". The Telegraph. 25 January 2012. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/9038638/MG-makes-a-return-to-racing.html. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
[edit] External links
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