Post by Steve Tyler on Jan 30, 2007 13:32:25 GMT
icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html
Longbridge production stepped up
Jan 30 2007
By John Revill, Manufacturing Editor
Caption: The first car produced at Longbridge since the Nanjing takeover
Nanjing Automobile Corporation has completed its first two Birmingham-built MG cars as it said its plans to restore production at Longbridge remained on schedule.
Nanjing (NAC) aims to resume full manufacture of the sports car by April 7 this year – the second anniversary of MG Rover going into administration. The cars finished off yesterday were the first of 42 test vehicles which will be built at Longbridge in the coming weeks.
Each will undergo extensive examinations to iron out any production problems before manufacturing resumes – when the number of employees at Longbridge will rise from 110 at present to 250.
The firm, which bought the assets of the carmaker for £53 million, has already passed nearly all of the Vehicle Certification Tests needed to launch the car.
A remodelled version of the TF will go on sale in the UK from July, while the old style will be launched in China. The restyled version – which includes a remodelled front end – will also go on sale in the Far East later this year, while hard top versions will follow in 2008.
Production will begin earlier in China in order to mark NAC's 60th anniversary, where the TF will be built along with the MG 7 – Nanjing's version of the Rover 75 which will be built in long and normal wheel base versions.
James Lin, operations director of NAC, said: "Everything is totally under control, all of our plans are going according to schedule.
"When we first came here people did not believe we could do it. Some suppliers were a bit sceptical, but over time they have come around.
"It is getting much easier and having produced these cars shows just what we can do."
While the finishing touches have been made to the TF in Birmingham, the car has also been undergoing extensive testing in China. They have been undergoing altitude preparation work in the foothills of the Himalayas, and heat trials on the southern island of Hainan.
Meanwhile the car has been exposed to temperatures of minus 35 degrees centigrade close to the Russian border.
Body pressings maker Stadco has moved part of its welding shop to Longbridge, while deals have been signed with 120 UK-based suppliers to provide components.
Initial production will run at around 3,000 vehicles in the first year, rising to 8,000 per year in 2008 and 12,000 by 2009.
Mr Lin said: "We have produced these cars so we can carry out our final tests, but also to give everyone confidence we can produce these cars and we have the capability to restore full production.
"Some people have been worried about that, but now they are confident when they have seen what we can do. Now they can come and see the evidence."
Mr Lin said work was under way to develop a dealer network in the UK to sell the cars, with discussions with more than 50 operators across the country.
He said some were very keen to take the new MGs, but appealed for help from the British public.
"Now we want people to support us. I remember reading about Admiral Nelson and his message about England expects every man to do his duty.
"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. This is not just our challenge to sell the cars. We have had help from suppliers and various authorities.
"Now we want the British people to support us."
Longbridge production stepped up
Jan 30 2007
By John Revill, Manufacturing Editor
Caption: The first car produced at Longbridge since the Nanjing takeover
Nanjing Automobile Corporation has completed its first two Birmingham-built MG cars as it said its plans to restore production at Longbridge remained on schedule.
Nanjing (NAC) aims to resume full manufacture of the sports car by April 7 this year – the second anniversary of MG Rover going into administration. The cars finished off yesterday were the first of 42 test vehicles which will be built at Longbridge in the coming weeks.
Each will undergo extensive examinations to iron out any production problems before manufacturing resumes – when the number of employees at Longbridge will rise from 110 at present to 250.
The firm, which bought the assets of the carmaker for £53 million, has already passed nearly all of the Vehicle Certification Tests needed to launch the car.
A remodelled version of the TF will go on sale in the UK from July, while the old style will be launched in China. The restyled version – which includes a remodelled front end – will also go on sale in the Far East later this year, while hard top versions will follow in 2008.
Production will begin earlier in China in order to mark NAC's 60th anniversary, where the TF will be built along with the MG 7 – Nanjing's version of the Rover 75 which will be built in long and normal wheel base versions.
James Lin, operations director of NAC, said: "Everything is totally under control, all of our plans are going according to schedule.
"When we first came here people did not believe we could do it. Some suppliers were a bit sceptical, but over time they have come around.
"It is getting much easier and having produced these cars shows just what we can do."
While the finishing touches have been made to the TF in Birmingham, the car has also been undergoing extensive testing in China. They have been undergoing altitude preparation work in the foothills of the Himalayas, and heat trials on the southern island of Hainan.
Meanwhile the car has been exposed to temperatures of minus 35 degrees centigrade close to the Russian border.
Body pressings maker Stadco has moved part of its welding shop to Longbridge, while deals have been signed with 120 UK-based suppliers to provide components.
Initial production will run at around 3,000 vehicles in the first year, rising to 8,000 per year in 2008 and 12,000 by 2009.
Mr Lin said: "We have produced these cars so we can carry out our final tests, but also to give everyone confidence we can produce these cars and we have the capability to restore full production.
"Some people have been worried about that, but now they are confident when they have seen what we can do. Now they can come and see the evidence."
Mr Lin said work was under way to develop a dealer network in the UK to sell the cars, with discussions with more than 50 operators across the country.
He said some were very keen to take the new MGs, but appealed for help from the British public.
"Now we want people to support us. I remember reading about Admiral Nelson and his message about England expects every man to do his duty.
"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. This is not just our challenge to sell the cars. We have had help from suppliers and various authorities.
"Now we want the British people to support us."
The site looks good (only the Chinese crap, they don't make it international with that attitude) and also, its is a veryyy slooooooow site. Don't they can afford better programmers to make a proper website 
i wonder if they will do an English language version? 
