Up to 3 models could be built in the central England plant.
Last month, China’s SAIC Motor agreed to buy the vehicle and core auto parts operations of privately held Nanjing Auto, Longbridge’s owner, for 2.1 billion yuan.
Plus, the state-owned company has the support of the Chinese government, which wants China’s automakers to consolidate so they can become globally competitive.
SAIC aims to restore production of original MG models in Longbridge soon, said SAIC Motor President Chen Hong. It also plans new MG models for Europe. Said Chen: “The British business will become SAIC’s new platform for overseas markets and a window for SAIC to Europe.
” In May, Nanjing showed some MG TF roadsters that it planned to assemble in Longbridge. But full-scale production has not started.
The models could include the MG 3 small hatchback and the MG 5 lower-medium sedan plus SAIC Motor’s Roewe W2 lower-medium car.
Nanjing said in a statement that it would strengthen R&D, sales and manufacturing at Longbridge, where cars have been produced since 1905.