MG resuming major UK production

2011-04-13 13:53:37

13 April 2011 Last updated at 13:43 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print MG cars roll off Longbridge production line Continue reading the main story

The MG6 was designed in Britain

Mass production returns to Longbridge

The first new MG for 16 years has rolled off the production line in Longbridge.

The MG6 is the first large-scale production at the Birmingham plant since the demise of Rover in 2005 with the loss of 6,000 jobs.

A five-seater model will be available to buy from May and is expected to sell for between £15,495 and £18,995.

MG is owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, the largest carmaker in China.

The 1.8l petrol, turbo-charged MG6 has a top speed of 120mph (193km/h) and takes 8.4 seconds to go from 0-60mph.

It has been designed in the UK but the parts are made in China ready for assembly in Longbridge.

'Dark days'

Guy Jones, from MG, said a total of 400 people were now working at Longbridge, in design, engineering and assembly roles.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

It will be important for the Chinese company to have a local presence that enables it to tailor its cars to international markets”

End Quote Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News How important is MG's UK production?

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said the response locally had been good.

"It's the start of a brand new business," he said.

"It's significant as the car drives off the production line in Longbridge.

"It's a good time for the MG brand."

Local MP Richard Burden said: "Today is a real milestone for Longbridge and for the automotive industry in the West Midlands.

"Longbridge has been through dark days. Nothing will bring back the days when thousands were employed on Longbridge production lines," said the Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield.

'Feel proud'

"But the greatest tribute we can pay to the heritage that made the name Longbridge synonymous with motor manufacturing throughout the 20th Century is to build a future in the 21st Century.

"Today is about that future. Longbridge is a huge site and we need to make sure that the redevelopment which is taking place beyond the MG factory itself adds real value to the potential which this area has."

One of the casualties of MG Rover's 2005 collapse was Andy Cartwright, who had worked in the paint shop for 15 years.

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