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14 September 2017 -
21 Dealers Announced |
A. E. Wilcox
Contact: Jonathan Wilcox or Timothy Wilcox
Gloucestershire. GL12 8NG
T. 01454 0294213 |
RC Harding (Tolcarne Motors)
Contact: Roger Harding
Cornwall. TR18 5PR
T. 01736 361998 |
Carrus
Contact: Michael Wager
Guernsey. GY6 8DJ
T. 01481 256555 |
Roy Tolley
Contact: Steve Tolley
Essex. CO2 9JS
T. 01206 574488 |
Howard Abraham
Contact: Stanley Abraham
Northern Ireland. BT66 7BE
T. 02838 310950 |
Staddons (Exmouth)
Contact: Simon Newman
Exmouth. EX8 3EA
T. 01395 442277 |
Holden Group
Contact: Tim Holden
Norwich. NR3 2AG
T. 01603 283900 |
Staddons (Budleigh)
Contact: Simon Newman
Salterton. EX9 6LQ
T. 01395 442277 |
Kent Elms
Contact: Allan Collier
Essex. RM16 3DU
T. 01375 892300 |
Souls (Keynes)
Contact: Andrew Soul
Milton Keynes. MK1 1JA
T. 01908 366944 |
Kerridges
Contact: Stephen Kerridge
Ipswich. IP6 8EG
T. 01449 720222 |
Souls (Olney)
Contact: Andrew Soul
Bucks. MK46 4AA
T. 01234 244300
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Luffield Cars
Contact: David Wood
Leicestershire. LE11 1LR
T. 01509 216100 |
SMC Slough Motor Co
Contact: Mike Warnes
Middx. UB10 9JU
T. 01895 209703 |
Advantage MG
Contact: Martin Bentley
Cambridgeshire. CB24 4QZ
T. 01954 231125 |
Startin Group
Contact: Gerald Freeman
Worcester. WR2 4SF
T. 01905 423322 |
Merritts (Amersham)
Contact: David Wallington
Amersham, Bucks. HP7 9DD
T. 01494 7258911 |
Times Tees
Contact: Darren Ridgwell
Essex. RM14 2SJ
T. 01708 250011 |
Merritts (Aylesbury)
Contact: David Wallington
Bucus. HP19 8FN
T. 01296 330133 |
Thomas Day
Contact: Adrian Olsson
T. 01252 613303 |
Mantles
Contact: John Mantle
Herts. SG8 5HJ
T. 01763 244244 |
Williams Harrogate
Contact: Steve Williams
North Yorks. HG2 8QT
T. 01423 871863 |
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13 July 2017
- First Dealers
Announced |
We
are delighted to update you on the recent announcement of the first
eleven MG franchised dealers within the UK. This is only the beginning
and we hope to bring you regular updates over the forthcoming months as
more dealers receive their contracts and begin the MG branding process
within their showrooms. The return of the MG brand has been very well
received which translates for you the customer, into excellent service,
enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff and a great iconic product.
Keep looking on this website for details of more dealerships. The
geographic spread is fairly even across the country and we will have
representation in approximately forty dealerships by the time the
vehicle hits the showrooms.
We warmly welcome the following dealers to MG:
Merritts of Amersham
Aylesbury Luffield Cars, Loughborough
SMC Group, Hillingdon
Holden in Norwich
Kerridges of Needham Market
Mantles of Royston
Perkins of Rayne
Startins Group, Malvern
Souls of Olney and Milton Keynes
North City Auto’s in Chingford
Thomas Day of Fleet (Hampshire) | |
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3 July - NAC
reveals 1st 2 dealerships. |
Nanjing
Automobile Corporation UK has appointed its first dealer representatives
to handle sales of its reborn MGF roadster model.
Merritts in Aylesbury and Amersham and Luffields in Loughborough are the
first two dealers announced. However, a spokesperson from NAC UK said it
would reveal 11 more appointments soon. It also added that it intends to
expand its UK dealer network to 80 sites in the future.
The new MG TF 2-seater sportscar will be sold from the Luffield Cars
premises in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and two of the Merritts Motor
Group’s Buckinghamshire-based premises in Amersham and Aylesbury. Each
will have dedicated showroom space adhering to the MG’s new corporate
identity guidelines which will house MG sales personnel, and a service
technician.
Stephen Cox, NAC UK sales/franchise manager, told AM last month that the
company was looking to sign 10 dealers all at once ‘otherwise it looks
inequitable’.
The new announcement strays from the plan slightly, but this is only due
to the remaining dealers waiting on their letters of intent.
Cox had previously planned to appoint the first five dealers by the end
of May. NAC is planning on holding a signing ceremony for the dealers as
this is traditional in China.
Merritts owns Jaguar, Lotus, Skoda and Peugeot franchises, while
Luffields has a single Citroen site.
David Wood, general manager for Luffield Cars, which was previously a
recognised MG X-Power specialist and still an MG service centre in the
UK, said: "We feel very privileged to have been chosen as one of the
founding retailers of the new MG franchise network. "We are fully
committed towards the development of the business and we consider the
future of MG cars to be extremely exciting.”
Kevin Badrick, general manager for Merritts, a former MG Rover retailer
for 10 years, said: “We are very excited to once again be associated
with an iconic name which boasts such a rich heritage, and to be the one
of the first confirmed franchised dealers is very special. I’m sure that
the strength of the MG marque, its new products and our commitment and
experience with the brand and to our customers, will prove to be an
offer too good to refuse." | |
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14 May
2017 - Longbridge Restarts production |
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In
a historic ceremony today, the media and VIP contingents from both the UK and
China will witness the return of MG production to the Longbridge factory, the
long-time home of this historic margue. Guest of honour will be Mr Liang Buo Hua,
Governor of the Jiangsu Province in China where NAC MG is based and Mike Whitby,
leader of Birmingham City Council.
Earlier today, Solicitor General Mike
O'Brien, MP visited Longbridge, and personally handed over a letter of support
from Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, on behalf of the British Government.
Mr O'Brien met senior officials from NAC in the UK and China, as well as Mr
Liang Buo Hua.
Since acquiring the assets of MGR Group
in 2005, NAC has been devoted to developing the MG brand and MG products,
initially in China and Britain. | |
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4 February 2017 -
Longbridge Reborn |
Longbridge reborn Jan 30 2017
By John Revill, Manufacturing Editor of the
Birmigham Mail
The
doubters said it would never happen. But yesterday, the long-dormant lines at
Longbridge finished the first new MG at the factory for 662 days.
The MG-TF was the first of several thousand cars to be built at the site, which
faced a bleak future when manufacture stopped on April 7, 2005.
At first there were no buyers; not even Shanghai Automotive – a one-time suitor
of MG Rover whose exit from a joint venture precipitated the meltdown. Some
thought this was the end.
Even the granting of an extra week through the securing of emergency loans from
the Government and the intervention of Tony Blair seemed to be in vain.
Hopes were raised when a three-way battle between Shanghai, Nanjing Automobile
Corporation and the British-based Project Kimber consortium was joined to buy
the assets. But when Nanjing emerged victorious the knockers feared it would be
little more than a lift and shift operation.
The firm was a pygmy on the global stage, while trucks carrying machinery to the
docks for despatch to China did little to allay fears.
Then, last year Nanjing signed a deal to stay at Longbridge – a smaller portion
of the plant, but for 33 years nevertheless. Despite personal assurances, the
cynics remained unconvinced – there was six month get-out clause.
Slowly, the doubts began to dissolve when the clause was allowed to lapse.
Meanwhile, plans were hatched to begin making the cars in the US – once a
massive market for MG and where the marque was still revered for its racing
heritage.
Suppliers who had been badly burned in the earlier collapse shed their
inhibitions and began to provide the components so badly needed.
Yesterday saw the result of the long wait, with the first car in 662 days
continuing the Longbridge tradition.
Longbridge may never return to volume manufacturing and employ thousands of
souls, but this picture is proof that its lines will continue to produce cars
that can proudly claim to be 'made in Birmingham'.
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4
February 2017 - NAC - Beijing Press Conference |
Nanjing
Automotive Corporation – the new owner of the MG brand – has recently held a
press conference in Beijing to present the MG brand credentials and its future
development to an eager Chinese media.
The press were treated to a thorough overview of the brand's history,
achievements, landmark products, and an insight into the degree of affection
that the brand has enjoyed – particularly in Britain.
In a significant gesture, several key personnel from within the two major MG
clubs were invited to attend the event, and provide the media with an
explanation as to why the MG fanbase is the biggest single group of enthusiasts
in the world.
With over 80 years of history behind the MG brand, its heritage is well-known in
Europe, but in China the brand and its products remain largely unknown to both
the media and car buyers.
With
the Chinese car market growing at a phenomenal pace, the acquisition of MG
clearly represents a huge opportunity to the NAC organisation, which has
ambitious plans for MG, both in its domestic market, and overseas.
In the build-up to the planned commercial launch of the new MG products later in
2017, NAC MG acknowledges that clear communication of the marque's illustrious
history will be a core element in its marketing strategy.
It will also be an important factor in its appeal to a new generation of
consumers, particularly during the crucial launch period. | |
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1 February 2017 - NAC MG demonstrates thorough understandings of
MG heritage. |
Beijing, 31 January
2017 - NAC (Nanjing Automotive (Group) Corporation) – the new owner of the MG
brand – has recently held a press conference in Beijing to present the MG brand
credentials and its future development to an eager Chinese media.
The press were treated to a thorough overview of the brand’s history,
achievements, landmark products, and an insight into the degree of affection
that the brand has enjoyed – particularly in Britain. In a significant gesture,
several key personnel from within the two major MG clubs, were invited to attend
the event, and were given the opportunity to endorse NAC MG’s vision of the
future, and provide the media with an explanation as to why the MG fanbase is
the single group of enthusiasts in the world.
With over 80 years of history behind the MG brand, its heritage is well-known in
Europe, but in China the brand and its products remain largely unknown to both
the media and car buyers. With the Chinese car market growing at a phenomenal
pace, the acquisition of MG clearly represents a huge opportunity to the NAC
organisation, which has ambitious plans for MG, both in its domestic market, and
overseas.
NAC is one of China’s oldest vehicle manufacturers, and brings vast experience
and manufacturing capabilities to its newly acquired brand. In the build-up to
the planned commercial launch of the new MG products, later in 2017, NAC MG
acknowledges that clear communication of the marque’s illustrious history will
be a core element in its marketing strategy, and an important factor in its
appeal to a new generation of consumers, particularly during the crucial launch
period.
Mr Zhang Xin, General Manager of NAC MG, provided information on how the company
will position the brand in the Chinese market, and demonstrated to the assembled
media his thorough understanding of MG’s heritage, and the intrinsic qualities
that have endeared to it generations of consumers around the world. Mr Zhang
said: “We at NAC MG fully appreciate that we are now responsible for the future
of an iconic automotive brand, so it is essential that we demonstrate to the
world that MG will enjoy a healthy and exciting future in our hands.”
It will be reassuring to many consumers that the fundamental qualities of the
marque will continue to form the basis of its future development. NAC MG can
rightfully lay claim to being the first solely owned Chinese car manufacturer
retailing an internationally-recognised brand in a global market. It has made
significant investment in the project so far, and the remarkable speed with
which it has developed its new state of the art facilities in Nanjing has
impressed the automotive community. | |
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1
February 2017 - Next phase in Ricardo Collaboration with SAIC.
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Following a highly
successful twenty month period of development by Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd (a
Ricardo subsidiary set up solely for this purpose), both of new products for
SAIC Motor Company as well as of a world-class engineering organisation, SAIC is
now ready to take ownership of this venture as planned and has advised Ricardo
of its intention to do so over the coming months
The Ricardo subsidiary Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd was formed in 2005 to act as
the overseas engineering centre of SAIC Motor that would assist SAIC Motor in
the development of its own in-house new product R&D capability. It was intended
from the start that if Ricardo 2010 was successful in this task, it was would be
transferred at a nominal sum of £1 to the Chinese group as a going concern after
a period of time. Through its links with the wider Ricardo group it has enjoyed
ready-made access to advanced automotive technology and state-of-the-art design,
test and development facilities.
The period since the formation of Ricardo 2010 has been enormously successful
both for Ricardo plc and for SAIC Motor Co Ltd, and has included the launch of
the first vehicles under the new Roewe brand, the recently announced start of
manufacture of the KV6 engine in China, and the ongoing development of a
completely new family of Roewe brand products. The transferred business will
continue both to be based at offices at the Ricardo Midlands Technical and have
strong operational links with Ricardo UK Ltd.
“This is an extremely positive outcome for Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd and its
employees as well as for Ricardo plc and SAIC Motor Company”, said Ricardo plc
CEO, Dave Shemmans. “Ricardo established this business as a means of creating a
world-class automotive product development capability for SAIC and the exercise
of the option to acquire the business demonstrates our success in this
endeavour. This is due in no small part to the hard work and innovative skills
of the Ricardo 2010’s employees as well as their colleagues at SAIC Motor and
Ricardo UK Ltd. We look forward to a continued close and mutually beneficial
relationship with SAIC Motor both on the existing programmes on which we are
already collaborating as well as on future products.”
The transfer of ownership of Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd will have no
commercial impact for Ricardo plc in the financial year ending June 30, 2017.
NOTES:
Ricardo plc: With technical centres in the UK, USA, Germany and the Czech
Republic, and offices in Shanghai and Tokyo, Ricardo is a leading independent
technology provider and strategic consultant to the world’s automotive
industries. The company’s engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems
integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest
driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell
powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world’s major vehicle, engine
and transmission manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams.
Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry leadership in people, technology
and knowledge; approximately 70 per cent of its employees are highly qualified
multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians. A public company,
Ricardo plc posted sales of £178 million in financial year 2006 and is a
constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index – a group of innovative technology
companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd. (SAIC) is one of China’s leading automakers. In
2006, it sold out more than 1,340,000 vehicles, including 915,000 passenger cars
with international quality standards through its manufacturing joint ventures
with General Motors and Volkswagen AG as well as through its overseas operation
Ssangyong Motor in Korea. As such, SAIC was growing rapidly in 2006 and its
sales volume was up 27 per cent on the previous year. Yet as a major element of
its forward strategy the company aspires to acquire the capability to develop
world-class automotive products under its own brand. In 2004 SAIC purchased the
intellectual property rights of the Rover 75 and 25 products of former UK
automaker MG Rover, as well as the K series gasoline and G series diesel engine
families. In Oct. 2006, SAIC’s first own-brand car Roewe 750 made its debut in
Shanghai.
Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd was formed in 2005 as an operating subsidiary of
Ricardo plc to act as the overseas engineering centre of SAIC Motor. Through its
links with the wider Ricardo group it has enjoyed ready-made access to
specialist technology, design, test and development facilities – assets that are
invaluable for state-of-the-art automotive product development. On formation of
Ricardo 2010, some of the most talented and highly skilled engineering staff of
the former MG Rover organisation were recruited and the UK engineering team
rapidly grew to approximately 150 staff, representing some of the best talent
available from the former MG Rover and other automotive organisations, assisted
by fellow engineers and resources as necessary from other Ricardo divisions.
In addition to its role in developing the first new products for SAIC, Ricardo
2010 Consultants has from the outset assisted in the development of processes
and systems for SAIC’s growing in-house engineering organisation, the Shanghai
Automotive Engineering Academy (SAEA). It has always been envisaged that Ricardo
2010 Consultants would ultimately form the European development centre of SAEA,
focusing on advanced research and development and product adaptation for
European markets. The exercise by SAIC Motor of the option to acquire Ricardo
2010 Consultants serves to demonstrate the achievement of this mission. | |
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