In a recent interview, head of MG Cars’ North American and European division, Duke T. Hale, has confirmed that the reformed MG group now owned by China’s Nanjing Automotive Corporation, is returning to the US with bold plans to manufacture cars in Oklahoma. Major details such as the plant’s actual location still haven’t been finalised, but the company is still on track for a start in 2008. In the meantime, production is starting to crank up at manufacturing facilities back in Nanjing and the UK. Three new sedans will be built in China while the UK’s Longbridge factory will handle a modified version of the MG TF roadster. Production in the US will consist of a coupe version of the roadster.
Considering MGs haven’t been sold in the US since the 1980s, it’s difficult to predict whether the company has any brand value left. The target market will be those aged above 40 but CEO, Hale, hopes that the under 30’s will strike an interest in the brand, similar to the kind of success BMW had with the reintroduction of the Mini. We hope Hale, who previously headed Lotus Cars US division can inject some of that Lotus magic into the forthcoming MG roadsters.
[Source: Inside Line]
Click here to see a concept version of a new MG sedan.
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