MG's TF roadster canceled for North America

Excitement over the revival of the long-dormant MG brand of sports cars has been cyclically built-up and dashed as the Chinese ownership, Nanjing Automobile Corporation, has repeatedly hit delays in the process. Now the word was come from company officials that the TF roadster won't be making it to North America any time soon, despite a planned kit-assembly factory in Oklahoma.

The deal to build the kit-assembly plant, which would have built the cars up from Chinese-made pre-packaged kits, fell through and left the company with no feasible way of getting the cars into the U.S., reports Automotive News. "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," said Gary Hagen, MG's marketing director.

Production for Europe is still underway, however, with 500 of the cars already being built at the Longbridge, England plant. The first market will be local British buyers, expanding to full-production volume and pan-European sales.

The news of cancellation for the U.S. market is sure to hit fans of the classic cars hard. Despite the nearly thirty year absence of the brand from U.S. sales, the cars and their enthusiast base are still running strong. Future MG sales in the U.S. are still possible, though it will most likely be with a different model, and after several years of development and expansion of the company's current operations.

Europe, meanwhile, will also get three new models, including a new roadster to replace the TF and a pair of sport-oriented sedans, over the next several years. Timelines and specifications for the new cars are still being held in reserve, however.