Future Plans for MG to Include North America

This initiative has targeted up to 2,000 new jobs at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham, England, to restart assembly of the MG TF sports car and a new

It is thought that Nanjing's plan to restart Longbridge is the major reason its proposal to purchase MG-Rover was taken over another plan put forth by Chinese rival Shanghai Automotive. (Photo: MG-Rover)

version of the MG ZR. Other models are expected to come, such as a redesigned four-door sedan, midsize coupe and possibly even an MG supercar.

It is thought that Nanjing's plan to restart Longbridge is the major reason its proposal to purchase MG-Rover was taken over another plan put forth by Chinese rival Shanghai Automotive (SAIC).

So how will MG-Rover survive under Nanjing ownership? This is difficult to say, and has more to do with the inner workings of Nanjing and the relationship it manages to develop with its British workers, than any specific cultural differences. After all, British sports car maker Lotus has done well under Malaysia's Proton, so therefore there is no reason why Nanjing can't make MG-Rover successful.

Nanjing's early decision to put the majority of resources behind MG instead of Rover appears to be a smart move, and one that the previous ownership group didn't quite grasp in its entirety. According to Nanjing, the MG brand was neglected and there is tremendous untapped potential waiting to be developed. No doubt, hundreds of thousands of MG fans would agree.