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MG Motor

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This article is about the current manufacturer of the MG automobiles. For the marque and the original manufacturer pre-2005, see MG Cars.
MG Motor UK Limited
Company typePrivate limited company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded2006 (as NAC MG)
Headquarters
Longbridge, Birmingham
,
United Kingdom
Key people
William Wang (Managing Director)
ProductsAutomobiles
BrandsMG Cars
£15.7 million (2012)[1]
-£4 million (2012)[1]
OwnerSAIC Motor
Number of employees
Approx 540[1]
ParentSAIC Motor UK
Websitewww.mg.co.uk

MG Motor UK Limited (MG Motor) is a British car manufacturing company headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, and a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIC Motor UK, which in turn is a subsidiary of the Shanghai-based SAIC Motor. It designs, develops, assembles and markets cars sold under the MG marque. The marque returned to competitive motorsport in 2012, and won the 2014 British Touring Car Manufacturers Championship.

History

Following the collapse of MG Rover in 2005, the Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile acquired the Longbridge plant and the MG marque for £53 million (US$97 million).[2][3] Nanjing Automobile formally established NAC MG UK Limited as a holding company for the plant and marque on 12 April 2006. In March 2007, Nanjing Automobile unveiled the first MG vehicles manufactured in China, the MG TF, MG 7295 and MG 7275.[3]

Assembly of cars restarted at Longbridge in August 2007, with production of the MG TF LE500.[4]

In 2007, Nanjing Automobile was acquired by SAIC Motor,[5] and in early 2009 NAC MG UK Limited was renamed MG Motor UK Limited.[6]

The first all-new model from MG for 16 years, the MG6, was officially launched on 26 June 2011 during a visit to MG Motor's Longbridge plant by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.[7][8]

By March 2012, SAIC had invested a total of £450 million in MG Motor.[9] Sales in the UK totalled 782 vehicles in 2012.[10]

The MG3 went on sale in the United Kingdom in September 2013.[11][12]

MG Motor was voted third place for the ‘Best Manufacturer’ category in the Auto Express 2014 Driver Power survey.[13] 2014 also saw MG celebrated its 90th birthday. MG enjoyed further celebrations with a record-breaking year that saw the company lead UK car industry growth in 2014. The brand’s sales rose by 361% during 2014 part thanks to the introduction of the MG3 to the product range,[14] with a total of 2,326 cars sold in the UK.

Operations

MG Motor UK HQ - SAIC UK Technical & Design Centre.

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 semi-knock-down kits for final assembly. There is also a major research and development facility at the Longbridge site which employs around 500 people.[1][15]

MG announced in 2015 that it will open a £30million flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly.[16]

Products

Current

Currently the majority of MG vehicles are principally manufactured in China. For the UK market, vehicles are shipped to Longbridge for final assembly.[17] Since the merger of NAC with SAIC, some MG models have Roewe-badged equivalents.

MG GS

Main article: MG GS
MG GS

The MG GS is MG's first production SUV launched in 2015, with sales in the UK expected to commence in 2016.

MG 6

Main article: MG 6
An MG6 Magnette, the saloon version of the car.

The MG 6 hatchback was announced in April 2009.[18] 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.[19]

The MG6 GT received good reviews, although the initial one engine choice (1.8 litre petrol) received some criticism. A 1.9 diesel engine was added in December 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.

MG6 2015 Facelift.

A saloon version of the MG6, the MG6 Magnette, went on sale in July 2011 after making its debut in June 2011.[20][21]

The MG6 scooped the What Car? 2012 Security Award. It went on to take the ‘Best Handling Award' in the Auto Express DriverPower survey 2014 and came 6th overall in the ‘Best Car to Own’ category.

A facelift MG6 was announced March 2015, to go on sale May 2015.

MG 3

Main article: MG 3
An MG3.

In 2010, SAIC unveiled the all new MG 3, which was shown in concept car form as the MG Zero. The car was initially launched in China with a choice of 1.3L or 1.5L petrol engines, and under went a facelift in 2013, with sales in the UK following in September 2013.

During 2014 MG Motor UK was the fastest growing brand in Britain as shown by official figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Currently MG has the fastest growing network of dealers in the UK as sales continue to surge largely due to the introduction of the MG3.

The MG3 was voted the 10th 'Best Car To Own' in the Auto Express Driver Power survey 2015 maintaining MG's great record in the largest Driver survey in the UK.

Concepts

MG Icon

MG unveiled the MG Icon concept car to stunned audiences at the Beijing Auto Show in 2012. The MGB GT inspired rear with structural lamps mounted on top of haunched wings are another highly distinctive feature of the design. The MG Icon has a four ‘shell’ seat layout. The rear seats can fold down completely into the floor, making the compact SUV versatile and functional

MG CS

The MG CS concept car on display at Auto Shanghai 2013

The MG CS is a SUV concept is unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013. The CS previews MG’s first production SUV. The design team was led by MG’s Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny.

MG EV

The MG EV concept car was unveiled in 2014 based on the Roewe E50 to celebrate the marque’s 90th anniversary. The EV has a claimed acceleration 0-50 kph - 5.3 seconds and 0-100 km/h - 14.6 seconds with a top speed - 130 km/h. The LFP battery generates 52 kW and working in conjunction with the regenerative braking system enables a range of over 100km. The battery retains more than 80% capacity after 2,000 charging cycles, equivalent to approximately ten years of typical use. The battery takes six hours to fully charge on a standard charge (220–240V), while a fast charge (380–400V) takes just 30 minutes.

MG EV.

MG3 Trophy

MG unveiled the MG3 Trophy Championship concept car at the MG90 event at Silverstone in June 2014.

The MG3 Trophy Championship concept, based on the current MG3 production vehicle platform and created to highlight in-house engineering, design and calibration capabilities by SMTC UK at Longbridge, continues the MG tradition of club racing.

MG3 Trophy.

Specifications: 1.5 Vti Tech engine producing 204 BHP 152 KW (increased from 106PS) Torque 250 Nm (increased from 136 NM) Boost 1.0 Bar Full body-lightening programme without compromising on stiffness Limited slip differential Fully adjustable Macpherson strut front set up Bespoke anti-roll bar Adjustable front splitter Twin plane adjustable rear spoiler

The racing concept was created solely by a team of engineers, managed by Vehicle Engineering Specialist Adrian Guyll, and based at SAIC Motor’s European Design and Technical Centre (SMTC), located alongside MG Motor UK at the Longbridge site in Birmingham.

Former

MG TF

Main article: MG TF

The MG TF 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.[22] This was followed by a TF 135 model and a further limited edition TF 85th Anniversary, of which only 50 were produced.[23] Production of the TF at Longbridge was suspended again in October 2009[24] and finally ended in March 2011.[25] MG have said that they will first concentrate on building passenger cars, and have not given a release date for the TF's successor.

MG3 SW

Main article: MG3 SW

The MG3 SW, a car similar to that of the Rover Streetwise, was sold in China between 2008 and 2011.

Planned

The MG5

MG 5

Main article: MG 5

The MG 5 was originally unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show as a concept model.[26][27] It is a Ford Focus sized hatchback using the same base as the Roewe 350. It was released for sale in China in 2012 but has not been exported to the UK.

Motorsport

MG / Triple Eight British Touring Cars 2012 - 2014.

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.[28] In its debut season the team ran two MG6s driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate. Jason ended the season in third place, with the car yet to find its foot in wet conditions.

MG / Triple Eight British Touring Cars 2015.

The team returned in 2013 with Sam Tordoff driving, who performed well in his debut year having joined through the KX Academy scheme. Plato once again came third, with Tordoff sixth.

In 2014, MG won the Manufacturer's Championship[29] to break Honda's four year reign. After just three years of competition, the MG6 GT sealed the title by 95 points at the season finale at Brands Hatch.

Drivers Plato and Tordoff racked up seven wins and 20 podiums in the 30-race calendar. Plato finished the Driver's Championship in second place, behind Colin Turkington, while Tordoff finished seventh. The 2014 season also saw a third MG6 GT was on the grid, driven by Marc Hynes. Also maintained by Triple Eight but in a new livery which didn't resemble the other two MG cars. Hynes finished his debut season in 18th.

For the 2015 campaign MG aim to regain the Manufacturers / Constructors title with a new driver line up. 2013 Champion Andrew Jordan and young gun Jack Goff pair up in the MG6 to fight against Honda, BMW and Infinity for the title.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "China 'can get MG back up to speed'". Birmingham Mail. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  2. ^ "New lease of life for Longbridge". BBC. 2006-02-22. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  3. ^ a b "Nanjing Auto Rolls Out First `Made-in-China' MG Cars". Bloomberg. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Production resumes at Longbridge". BBC. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  5. ^ "SAIC merges with Nanjing". CAR Magazine. Bauer Media. 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  6. ^ "Longbridge workers laid off". Birmingham Post. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  7. ^ "China's £1bn business deal with UK". The Telegraph. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  8. ^ "China's premier promotes Sino-UK trade synergies". Reuters. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Chinese owners plan more investment into MG Motor UK at Longbridge". The Birmingham Post. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  10. ^ "2012 new car market tops two million units, a four-year high". SMMT. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  11. ^ "MG3 review". The Telegraph. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  12. ^ "MG 3 UK first drive review". Autocar. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Best car manufacturers 2014". Auto Express. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. ^ "MG records 361 per cent growth in UK registrations during 2014". AR Online. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. ^ "New £5m MG design studio unveiled at Longbridge site". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  16. ^ "MG opens four more dealerships including flagship central London outlet". Birmingham Post. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  17. ^ "MG unveils new super-mini at Longbridge". Express & Star. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  18. ^ Holloway, Hilton (2009-04-20). "MG6 to go on sale in the UK". Autocar. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  19. ^ "China-Developed MG6 Will Be Built in U.K." Edmund's Inside Line. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  20. ^ "Magnette's back as MG 6 saloon". Auto Express. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  21. ^ "MG6 Magnette TSE review". Autocar. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  22. ^ Bird, Guy (2008-08-29). "MG TF LE500 (2008) CAR review". CAR magazine. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  23. ^ "Press Report : MG making 85th Anniversary model at Longbridge". www.aronline.co.uk. AROnline. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  24. ^ "BBC News: No car production 'until spring'". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  25. ^ "MG 'wants a new sports car'". Autocar. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  26. ^ "Shanghai motor show: MG5 Concept". The Telegraph. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  27. ^ "MG's Focus rival unveiled in Shanghai". Auto Express. April 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  28. ^ "MG makes a return to racing". The Telegraph. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  29. ^ "MG WINS FIRST BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP MANUFACTURER TITLE". MG Motor UK. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
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