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Longbridge car factory to reopen Longbridge car factory to reopen
(about 1 hour later)
Car manufacturing is to resume at Longbridge, the former home of MG Rover, with its new Chinese owner set to start making MG models.Car manufacturing is to resume at Longbridge, the former home of MG Rover, with its new Chinese owner set to start making MG models.
Nanjing Automobile said MG production would restart within months and that it would employ many former Rover workers.Nanjing Automobile said MG production would restart within months and that it would employ many former Rover workers.
The West Midlands plant has been inactive for almost two years after Rover's collapse in 2005.The West Midlands plant has been inactive for almost two years after Rover's collapse in 2005.
Nanjing said its mission was to "revive, maintain and develop" the MG brand at the plant.Nanjing said its mission was to "revive, maintain and develop" the MG brand at the plant.
Economic lifeline Production targets
Nearly 6,000 Rover workers lost their jobs when the company went into administration nearly two years.Nearly 6,000 Rover workers lost their jobs when the company went into administration nearly two years.
Nanjing, which bought the factory site and other Rover assets in 2005, has pledged to spend an initial £10m on reviving Longbridge. Nanjing, which bought the factory site and other Rover assets in 2005 for £53m, has pledged to spend an initial £10m on reviving Longbridge.
It has not given any firm details of how many staff it will take on or when production will start, although it said this would be in the spring. I remember reading about Admiral Nelson and his message about England expects every man to do his duty... now we want the British people to support us James Lin, Nanjing Automobile
But the news will be a major boost to the regional economy which has seen a host of car firms scale down operations in recent years. Test production of the MG-TF sports car will begin within weeks with full-scale manufacturing set to start in April.
"The company's mission to revive, maintain and develop MG will start with the manufacture of the MG TF2-seater sports car for retail in both the UK and China," the firm said in a statement. By that point, about 250 people will be employed at the factory, although staff numbers are expected to rise over time as production ramps up.
"All right-hand drive MG TF roadster customer orders will be subject to final assembly in the revived Longbridge plant." Nanjing's aim is to make 3,000 cars in the first year, rising to 12,000 by 2009. It will ultimately have the capacity to make 15,000 cars a year.
Nanjing has previously said that Longbridge would eventually have the capacity to make 15,000 cars a year. The news will be a major boost to the local economy which has seen a host of car firms scale down operations in recent years.
Public support
Nanjing appealed to the British public to back its new models, adding that it was in talks about setting up a network of dealers to sell the cars.
The TF model is expected to go on sale in the UK in July while hard-top versions will be available from next year.
"I remember reading about Admiral Nelson and his message about England expects every man to do his duty," said James Lin, Nanjing's operations director.
"We have restored production at Longbridge and now we want people to help us. If they love the MG brand or history, it is their country's car industry and history as well.
"Now we want the British people to support us."