MG Comes Back to Life

clipped from www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk FRESH START: The new signs outside the factory at Longbridge. READY TO ROLL: Two of the first MG TF LE500 cars at Longbridge Q Gate, which will soon be rolling off factory lines. Ref: NT06017 MG makes its marque again 8:22am Wednesday 6th August 2008 IT was an historic moment for Longbridge last week as full car production returned to the plant following a three-year absence. The gates closed for what many believed was the last time in 2005, but the restarting of full-scale production represented a key milestone last Friday. The first new limited edition MG TF LE500 will soon be rolling off factory lines with most set to hit the plant's 55 UK dealer's showrooms, by the end of September. Rover's owners, Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) say it has sold 70 per cent of orders for its new model and around 700 MG TF's, which cost nearly £16,500, will be produced by the end of the year.

The first box example in my Marketing Plan Handbook 3rd edition is about the Chinese car company Nanjing Automobile Group buying the factory and name of Britain's MG.

Now Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) has bought out Nanjing and put the first MGs into production in Bromsgrove, UK. Watch for the new MGs to hit dealer showrooms by September. Wonder what recession pressures will do to MG sales?