MG Production Moves to Oklahoma?

Timothy Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Wonderful news, especially for Longbridge workers. If a German car company can inherit the MINI brand, why can’t a Chinese company inherit the MG brand?

Nanjing A.G. is actually China’s oldest car manufacturer. The company was founded a couple years before the Communists took control. China is now the second largest automobile market in the world (after the United States). Most of the cars are built right in China, some by local companies and others through joint ventures with GM, Volkswagen, PSA Peugeot Citroen, etc.

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dickdavid Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I admire the risk and the effort. Good luck to them.

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Josh Wardell Jul 13th, 2006 Link

But if it’s made in the US I guess it would no longer be a british car. :)

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dr Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Well they should be about as reliable as the originals….lol

seriously though…The GM plant in OKC is closing, If Nanjing purchases the facilities and equipment the manufacturing technology will be good, and will have experinced workers available.

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lTZMTOR Jul 13th, 2006 Link

The chinese are the biggest force in the world economy, not USa.

As far as build quality … couldn’t be any worse than what came out of the MG plant. Seems Toyotas built here are fine!

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kelly Jul 13th, 2006 Link

The chinese are the biggest force in the world economy, not USa.

how is that crack?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29

I guess 2 is bigger than 12. Not to mention the fact that the Chinese government artifitialy inflates the value of their currency.

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MCSDCWGP2006 Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I recall driving my first chinese made vehicle, a BJC, those were the days my friends, a shell of a vehicle that somehow made it through the toughest of terrains, don’t quite know how but it made it. Check out the A/C in the window.

http://i1.tinypic.com/1zvu03o.jpg

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Mark Jul 13th, 2006 Link

As long as they leave out the Lucas electrics :-P

Interesting to see that the head of Lotus USA is one of the investors in this.

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Bill Lawrence Jul 13th, 2006 Link

That is actually a smart move for the first Chinese foray into the US automotive market. Many more people will line up to buy Chinese cars with a beloved name like MG than they will for a Chinese car called a Chery.

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AfterGlow Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I’d be interested to see what happens with this. I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more about the US-produced MG in the coming months. Even with MG’s quirks, I was always a fan. My dad owned a 1920s MGT. I hope that the car succeeds, although being owned by the Chinese even further creates a situation where they own more of the United States of America (or the perception thereof)..

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Nathaniel Salzman Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I’m curious how this venture will be structured. Is it much of the old crew from MG relocated with some new leadership and financial backing, or did Nanjing A.G. simply nab the name and are now trying to pick up where the previous organization left off? I’m not terribly excited about the chinese influence, and wonder about quality control and so forth.

Seems Toyotas built here are fine!

True. But Toyota has ridiculously high quality-control standards. It’s a corporate value they set for themselves decades ago. I’ve never been a big fan of Toyota’s design in general (though we’ve owned several), but one can fully expect to drive a Toyota for 300,000 miles if they decide to. Honda is pretty much the same story, and more recently Hyundai and Kia have really jumped in their engineering and build quality. Can China build a great car? Sure. Will they decide to? We’ll see.

I do enjoy the irony of something Chinese being built here for once. I’m really happy to see new manufacturing work come to the USA. That’s pretty much good for everybody (here anyway). However, at a gut level, I hate the idea of a very classic british car being built in sodding Oklahoma – by a Chinese company no less. Kind of like how I feel when I remember that Ford owns Lamborghini, Jaguar, and Aston Martin. Blek! On the flip, I LOVE that the MINI is still at least built in England.

That said, I’m excited to see what gets offered here in the US. I love dad’s ‘69 MGb GT! It’d be great to see MG succeed, regardless of who owns it.

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Mark Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Nathaniel, I second that. Not a fan of the auto congloms that seem to buy the name and lose the soul of the car. They take the name and a little of the body style and slap it on what they have always made. Jag is now a ford with a fancy hood ornament, SAAB is now a GM product with all those quality control issues (Son has a new one and it is always in the shop – says it is a cheap GM car with a SAAB engine).

Hope the new owners of MG realize, like BMW did with the MINI, that the essence of what made the original HAS to be part of the new, or else it will fail.

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Jim Harris Jul 13th, 2006 Link

A Chinese company…..building MGs…..in Oklahoma City……what odds might I have gotten on that proposition ten years ago??? I’d be a zillionaire.

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Trick Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Thought that VAG had Lambo. . . .

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Dave Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I remember that Ford owns Lamborghini, Jaguar, and Aston Martin.

Volkswagen AG owns Lambroghini. 

While we’re on the subject of British car companies owned and operated by non-british companies, VW also owns Bentley. 

Along the same vein, Ford also owns Land Rover, and BMW owns Rolls Royce.

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MillieTheMini Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I have mixed feelings about this whole venture, not so much that a Chinese company is reviving the MG name, but that a classic British marquee is being built outside of the UK.

Why? If the MG is a big success, it will be a snub at companies like Ford and BMW who felt that a key criteria to successfully promoting the Jaguar and MINI name was to continue building them in the UK, to maintain that essence of ‘Britishness’.

If that is shown to be unnecessary, this will set a precedent that honouring heritage is unnecessary, that the name is good enough to appease the motoring masses. I do hope we are not as gullible as that may appear to be………

However, looking at what is happening to SAAB right now, with the motoring public being aware and not falling for the rebadged GM/Subaru products that are passing themselves off as ‘Swedish’ cars, perhaps there is some hope. Even with the Volvo S40, though it shares the same platform as the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus(the European one), those 3 cars are distinct enough to stand on their own merits.

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lTZMTOR Jul 13th, 2006 Link

KELLY…

As far as that “CRACK” goes… look inside your clothing, TV, Radio, shoes. hats, jacket and on and on! Don’t see much USA, England, France, Germany etceteras on those now do you? Even if you do it’s probably from somewhere in asia.

$, £, €, Yen… world economy is all controlled by……China & India. Doesn’t matter what Sikopedia says.

Let’s not even get into OIL!

Also… wasn’t commenting politically just on shear amount of commerce they do!

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Now back to the MG. Hum… I wonder if they will build the MGA to fall apart in 6-12 months as a friends did, way back when? Chinese build cars, not good, so far, chinese built anything else.. spot on.

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Mark Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Hi MTM:

Nanjing’s MG Motors North America/Europe Corp. will still build the MG TF Roadster at the former MG Rover Longbridge plant near Birmingham, England.

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O(=^=)OCapn Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Did anybody else notice how much the car pictured in the drawing looks an awfully lot like one of the newer(crappy) camaros?

Would anyone buy one of these based on it’s looks alone?

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Pete Jul 13th, 2006 Link

FYI, Ford owns Aston Martin. A 10-year old MG design will have the panache of the old “name” but the vehicle itself has not been a huge success, even in the UK. Rots of ruck!

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Vanwall Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Ahem. A ditty for the occaision, ;-) with apologies to Merle:

We don’t drive them Kias in Muskogee,

and we don’t take long trips in them Hyundees

We don’t burn out, driftin’ touges down Main Street,

‘cause we like living right & makin’ MGs

Chorus:

And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

A place where makin’ MGs is a ball

We still wave Ol’ Glory down at the courthouse

But workin’ for Nanjing’s the biggest thrill of all.

We don’t make a party out of drivin’,

but we might take a club run in, or two;

Now we’re wearin’ racin’ jackets and stringbacks,

like the yuppies in San Francisco do.

Chorus:

And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

A place where wearin’ Ivy hat’s for fools.

We still drive our pick-ups to the factory,

But them new TF’s are lookin’ pretty cool.

Puma Speed Cats are the style for footwear,

Dickies and Cat stompers won’t be seen;

Football’s just a mem’ry at the high-school,

and all the kids are learnin’ Mandareen.

Chorus:

And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

A cars is a car is a car, ‘cept an MGB.

We ain’t a clue where Longbridge or Shanghai is,

But it beats bein’ outta work at GMC.

   BCNU,
 Rob in Dago

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O(=^=)OCapn Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Which tune is this set to?

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kelly Jul 13th, 2006 Link

lTZMTOR:

GDP: The total market value of all the goods and services produced within the borders of a nation during a specified period.

That means the USA produces 6 times more goods and services than China. I am no economist but I would think that since the US produces that much more than China and there is currently a huge trade deficit the US not only produces signifigantly more than China and any other country they also consume signifigantly more. Hence the fact that a chinese company wants to buy a bankrupt British carmaker just to try and sell cars in the US and Europe.

I don’t know where you got your information about the power of China’s economy but if you look at the facts it is apparently untrue. This is not to say that they do not have the potential to one day overtake the the US or EU, but for the moment that’s crack you be smokin’.

sorry but we don’t need anymore miss information about the state of international affairs.

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MCSDCWGP2006 Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Upon reading this news item I immediately thought of an 80’s movie I watched a few weeks ago, about an Asian car company that bought a former production facility in the USA and revitalised it. The movie was Gung Ho starring Michael Keaton.

http://i1.tinypic.com/1zwj38l.jpg

The movie was directed by a certain Ron Howard, one of his earliest ventures. Would you believe, Ron was born in the town of Duncan in the state of Oklahoma about 50 miles from Ardmore, site of the closing GM facility. Now this is freaking me out!

Check out the movie, it’s got it’s moments, the cars used are FIAT Regata’s.

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tsukiji Jul 13th, 2006 Link

It kinda looks like a re-skinned MR2

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TSizemore3 Jul 13th, 2006 Link

First MINI, then Healy, now MG: if only BMW will bring back Triumph and someone will rescue TVR from the Russians, all will be well in the world of British cars.

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Avitor Jul 13th, 2006 Link

If I go out and buy a car that isn’t a MINI, and is a throwback to legendary ’60s roadster, it won’t be a MG (in name) made in Oklahoma—it’s going to be an Alfa Romeo Spider. Alfa’s still made in Italy, in Milan, where have been since the begining—and they’ll be back in the US in 2009. For now I’m more than happy with my Cooper S.

Nanjing boss Zhang Xin said: “We want Chinese consumers to know this brand as Modern Gentleman.”

William Morris is rolling in his grave

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Evan Jul 13th, 2006 Link

If they are just building the old MG that just went of production, it can’t make it in the USA b/c of crash tests. And therefor, anything coming as soon as 2007-2008 will be a patch job at best. And what engine? They have the rights to the old K series right? Who knows what’ll really happen. I’d prefer different more reliable stewardship of MG. If the management had been right and R&D better for new cars, MG could have made it.

Oh well, at least I know a BMW engineered British car rocks. Plus, the Rover 75 wasn’t bad, just needed a bit firmer suspension and better engines… hindsight, huh?

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lTZMTOR Jul 13th, 2006 Link

Kelly…

Well I’m not an economist, as you can tell, I only know what is on my label or inside about everything I own! Have you looked inside or on what you have around you?

As far as miss info goes.. get a grip.

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rj Jul 13th, 2006 Link

I read with a bit of a chuckle Alfa’s plans to return to the US in the associated Autoweek article. Seems that Alfa releases plans every few years to return to the states, but the plans are always 2-3 years in the future. I’m not optimistic about an Alfa return, nor do I forsee MG returning to the US after a twenty-five year absence.

btw – if memory serves correct, the MGF (that’s the roadster basis of the MG TF concept hardtop shown in the Autoweek article) was always the top-selling roadster in the UK, outselling the Mazda MX5/Miata.

I always thought the MGF was a cool MG, and would have loved to have been able to purchase one in the US.

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Stuart Jul 13th, 2006 Link

As much as I’d love to see it happen, I can’t imagine this or any other classic British marque being revived with the same outstanding success as MINI. BMW did such an extraordinary job in developing the MINI, which is why I was so excited about the (dispelled) rumours they might do the same with Triumph.

It’s hard to see how Nanjing Automobile Corp could come anywhere close to packaging an appealing successor to MG’s roots in affordable, fun sports cars.

I always thought the MGF was a cool MG, and would have loved to have been able to purchase one in the US.

I’d be interested to know if other MotoringFile readers think the MG badge still appeals? That is, would anyone else buy an MG built in the past 30 years?

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Teresa Jul 14th, 2006 Link

I wonder if it will actually end up looking like the pics shown in the article. If so it will be no competition for the Mini. It looks exactly like a squished Saturn ;)

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Mark Jul 14th, 2006 Link

I agree with Teresa – if they don’t do a “Modern/Retro” like BMW did with the MINI, sticking with the design of the current (2005) MG models, which I don’t see happening in their short 2 yr ramp up timeline – they will fail. They will have to bottom out their prices to sell anything and then their competition won’t be MINI it will be Kia.

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Ivor Biggun Jul 14th, 2006 Link

Hmm, the TF is just a redevelopment of the F without the hydragas suspension, TBH it’s an old design with a pretty awful chassis, a wheezy motor and not much else going for it. I cannot imagine why anyone would even consider buying one made anywhere let alone the US. I think that the Chinese appetite for making everything in a quest for world manufacturing domination will blow up in their faces at some point when theres nothing left for them to use for continuity. It’s madness I tell you Smithers !

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Chad Jul 14th, 2006 Link

lTZMTOR:

Just because your shirt, which costs $20, was made in China doesn’t mean that China got $20. They got $2. The other $18 likely went to the United States. Either in the cotton, or the design, or the shipping, or the marketing, or the distribution, or the retailing.

Most US companies have abandoned production of small, cheap items, and have instead focused on expensive, high-tech items, or moved out of “items” altogether and produce services and intellectual property.

So while China may be making a lot of shirts, they import a lot of software, medicines, oil, chemicals, metals, airplanes, etc.

You might say “this shirt is made in China” but some Chinese man or woman is saying “this confocal microscope is made in Germany” or “this wide body passenger jet is made in USA” or “this CT scanner is made in France”. China needs to export a LOT of shirts to be able to afford even one of the items they import.

The GDP of the USA has increased, just since 2003, by more than the ENTIRE GDP of China. That means that just in GROWTH, we’ve swallowed the equivalent of China. China may be growing quickly as a percentage, but they are growing at a signifigantly slower rate than the United States is. China does have a proportionally higher amount of exports as a percentage of GDP, but the USA still exports more than China does.

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dll Jul 14th, 2006 Link

Whence the earlier reported connection with the formerly SMART Roadster, via the Kimber Group?

New Smart-based MG Roadster could see production by early 2007

By TONY LEWIN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 03/20/06, 2:27 pm et

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China Law Blog Jul 15th, 2006 Link

This whole thing strikes me as very strange. Is it possible the Chinese are just saying they will be doing this so as to gain political points in the U.S. for now?

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mgcman Jul 15th, 2006 Link

Well, I guess my moniker says it all. I have lived and breathed MGs ever since I purchased my first car, an MGA. So what if a Chinese company now owns MG? Did anybody complain when the German firm BMW, brought back MG in the 1990s with the MGF? or MINI in 2001? Didn’t think so. So why gripe now about a Chinese overlord? Does Aston Martin become a lesser brand because Ford owns it? Lamborghini for being a subsidiary of Audi? Ferrari for having Fiat as its parent? Come on peeps, all that really matters is the PRODUCT. If Nanjing can make a decent affordable sportscar in Ardmore, OK and Longbridge, UK more power to ‘em. I’ll be first in line ’round these parts to by one, just like I was when BMW brought us our new MINIs.

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Rebeckah Maganaenzi Nixa Missouri Jul 24th, 2006 Link

I happen to own two MG cars one a Midget1974 and One is a MGB 77. The parts have always been easy to get , and pretty simple car to work on . The midget is very samll and zippy to drive , anyone that I have let drive it comes back with a huge smile on there face like a child comming off a roller coster ride. Sometimes having a fun car just needs to be fun is all . After all America is the place it is acceptiable to have extra ! I am sure Ill sell the cars some day but for now they are fun. I hope anyone who gets a new one enjoys the tremendious MPG and the shear fun of driving. Rebeckah Maganaenzi , Nixa Missouri .

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