Midland Automotive

[Splop]

Originally Posted by feltip

From Today's Post:


http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

Nice. That'll mean Jaguars will now be assembled using superglue and papier mache.

[mk61]

Full story here http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

Westfield sparks new battle of the electric cars

Dec 24 2007

By John Revill


The world's first one make electric vehicle race series is poised to be launched in the Midlands early next year.

Niche vehicle manufacturer Westfield has joined forces with Silverstone-based Delta Motorsport and the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) at Birmingham City University to develop a prototype rolling chassis....

[feltip]

From the Post

Riley keeps the MG name alive
Apr 8 2008

A Worcestershire-based motoring entrepreneur is helping to keep the MG Rover name alive with the high performance MG X-Power sports car.

William Riley, a member of the famous Riley motoring dynasty, secured the rights to the model – which was intended to symbolise the renanissance of MG Rover in 2002 but floundered when the company collapsed in 2005 – from MG Rover administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He has now launched MG Sports and Racing Europe and invested £2 million in a factory unit in Eardiston, near Tenbury Wells.

Mr Riley said a lot of time and effort had gone into the venture already but keeping the famous brand alive had been worth it.

The company, which employs 17 people, has so far produced seven of the cars – which sell for between £75,000-£90,000 – and has advance orders for 35 more.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-20738151/

[U475 Foxtrot]

ASTON BOSSES 'NOT LOOKING TO SELL'
Report: Aston Martin not for sale

Aston Martin is not looking to ‘sell all or part of the company’, company sources have said.

It had been rumoured that Mercedes wants a large stake in Aston but insiders have told Autocar that the company is not for sale.

It looks like the new management team are not prepared to make any more changes to the ownership of the company.

Aston has however been in talks with several carmakers to discuss sharing technology which some reports suggest could include Mercedes hybrid engines.

This could certainly help with Aston’s long-term survival as manufacturers such as Porsche are looking at hybrid technology for their forthcoming Panamera.

The most likely use for Aston would be in the Rapide four-door sports car.

However, according to Autocar, there will be no buyout, although it is suggested that shares in Aston could be offered on the open market in an IPO 'within five years'

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=17859

[rottersclub]

TATA have also bought the rights to use the "Rover" name along with Lancaster and Daimler.

And they apparently still have plans for a European R&D centre in Coventry, although this may be at Whitley rather than Ansty. St Modwen are building a large business park at Whitley (On land around Jaguar's Design and Engineering centre.)

[U475 Foxtrot]

Does that mean we could see the return of Rover to Coventry and MG to Longbridge?

[U475 Foxtrot]

From www.mg-uk.co.uk

The role of Longbridge will be as follows:

R&D centre for MG
Engineering & testing of MG models
HR recruiting for China and Longbridge
A purchasing and logistics centre for China and Longbridge
Manufacturing base for the UK and European markets
Sales & marketing base for the UK and Europe

[NeilM]

When will it ever actually happen though.

[rottersclub]

Originally Posted by NeilM

When will it ever actually happen though.

Not looking good - Stadco, who make the bodies for the MG, are pulling out.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-20755552/

[rottersclub]

Originally Posted by U475 Foxtrot

Does that mean we could see the return of Rover to Coventry and MG to Longbridge?

I doubt we'll ever see volume car assembly in Coventry again - there are no sites for a car factory, as Browns Lane & Peugot have been sold & the Stoke Plant is already rapidly being redeveloped. The city seems to be more interested in the R&D and technology aspect rather than assembly.

[U475 Foxtrot]

Sounds like you may well be right Martin

LONGBRIDGE MG TF PLANS SHATTERED

Fears MG production at plant will never restart

Cars may never be built at Longbridge again after a plan to revive MG TF production at the plant reportedly collapsed.

Main supplier Stadco has apparently decided to stop manufacturing body-shells for the TF, affectively sounding the ‘death knell’ for the fragile project.

After it bought MG Rover it had been hoped that Nanjing would open up the assembly lines at Longbridge.

But one source has told local media that it is now doubtful whether Nanjing parent SAIC will ever produce cars at Longbridge.

He said the chances of the factory producing MGs was ‘very slim’ and the best the Rover factory could hope for would be a role as a servicing centre.

He pointed out that far more attractive operations had struggled, such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and TVR, and that it would be uneconomical to produce cars at Longbridge.

‘If SAIC/Nanjing thought they could produce cars at Longbridge economically, then I am sure they would,’ he said.

‘But can they do it economically?

‘I cannot see them prepared to spend the sorts of money required. It was always wishful thinking that something would happen. "I accept that some people within Nanjing had intentions to produce. But I have never had the impression they were serious about it.’

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=17896

[Mr Glide]

But we all knew this really, didn't we?
Why on earth would Nanjing want to ship parts to be assembled at Longbridge, when they can pay workers a pound a day to do this back home?

Move along, nothing to see here

[rottersclub]

Originally Posted by Mr Glide

But we all knew this really, didn't we?
Why on earth would Nanjing want to ship parts to be assembled at Longbridge, when they can pay workers a pound a day to do this back home?

Move along, nothing to see here

Exactly - this is why Peugeot shut down Ryton.

[Biosonic]

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/n...name_page.html

Shanghai and Nanjing to fly in for MG talks at Longbridge

The fate of car production at Longbridge looks uncertain that a high level delegation from Shanghai Automotive and Nanjing is to visit the plant for crunch talks later this month.

Sources have told The Birmingham Post that the visit could decide the long-term future of the MG Rover plant.

[Engels]

Originally Posted by Mr Glide

But we all knew this really, didn't we?
Why on earth would Nanjing want to ship parts to be assembled at Longbridge, when they can pay workers a pound a day to do this back home?

Move along, nothing to see here

Because otherwise they have to pay import duty for sales within the EU. That was the logic of maintaining an assembly line at Longbridge.

In the long term it may be better they don't assemble here as there were only a few hundred jobs likely to be created on a massive part of the site here. Better use of the land could be made in redeveloping the site imo.

[feltip]

From the Post

Hopes rise for MG producation at Longbridge
Apr 22 2008 By Duncan Tift, Business Staff

Fresh hopes have emerged that car production at Longbridge does have a future.

Shanghai Automotive (SAIC), which took over Nanjing Automotive at the end of last year, has announced that production of the MG TF sports car will be relaunched in July and on sale in August – 11 months later than originally planned.

After weeks of speculation about the future of the sports car project – doubts being fuelled by the withdrawal of body-shell manufacturer Stadco from an agreement to supply panels and a lack of comment from China – SAIC used the launch of the prestigious Auto China 2008 exhibition in Beijing to announce that it would resume production of the TF in China at the end of this month and follow it up some three months later in Longbridge.

Industry experts and suppliers have welcomed the move although they are still cautious about the amount of British involvement in the project.

In a statement to support the TF’s appearance at the motor show, SAIC said the model had "remarkable significance" and that it was the first genuine sports car [by Chinese standards] to represent the "brand personality of MG – Release, Passion and Fun".

SAIC also said that 2008 represented a fresh start for the company – indicating its integration of Nanjing.

Yang Junhu, vice general manager of MG, said: "MG TF is the best symbol to represent MG brand, because of its high-end market position, passionate and stylish design concept, and its long racing history. MG TF will certainly make positive and deep influence on the Chinese sports-car market."

SAIC said it had delayed the project in the UK because it wanted to reassess it following its merger with Nanjing at the end of last year and because of concerns about the quality of some of the components being shipped over from China. The Chinese commitment would appear genuine and has been reinforced by comments from Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, Malcolm Harbour, who met SAIC president Chen Hong in a private meeting at the end of March.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-20798023/

[Biosonic]

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Generat...=9&MENU_ID=276

The Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Mike Whitby, breaks his silence today after a late-night summit on Wednesday 23 April 2008 with a high-powered delegation from SAIC Motor, including the President, Chen Hong, in his offices at the Council House.

The Leader met not only the President, but senior managers of SAIC, the 4th largest motor company in the world.

The Leader was reassured during discussions of SAIC's commitment to invest heavily in the Longbridge plant; to increase the number of engineers working out of the Longbridge site; and most importantly, the resumption of production of the MG TF later this year.

After wide-ranging discussions, Mr Chen Hong confided to Councillor Whitby that SAIC realised Longbridge needed to make more products than just the MG TF and were preparing to make imminent announcements of new models.

To reinforce the special relationship with SAIC and China, Mr Chen Hong personally invited Councillor Mike Whitby to the SAIC Headquarters in Shanghai when he visits the International Autoparts Exhibition, in Beijing, later this year.

The Leader of Birmingham City Council confirmed his commitment to SAIC and repeated his belief that today's news has enriched and rewarded the belief and trust that SAIC and the City of Birmingham have in each other for a successful business relationship.

Finally, SAIC has promised to communicate with the Leader, Councillor Mike Whitby, on a regular basis, so that the citizens of Birmingham can be updated on future significant announcements.

Mr Chen Hong endorsed these sentiments and stated clearly, that he sees Birmingham as a friend and a major strategic partner.

[NeilM]

Well, lets keep our fingers crossed, the Chinse do business differently to the West, they take there time over things and make sure everything is in place, but as we know, this can then cause confusion and axiety when dealing with western partners, as they don't tell anyone what they are doing until they are ready.

Lets hope it is not just more promises to be broken.

[Joe Brody]

the phoenix can fly only when its feathers are grown

[smysticed]

Did you get that out of a fortune cookie?