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Production resumes at Longbridge Production resumes at Longbridge
(about 5 hours later)
Full-scale car production at the former Rover plant at Longbridge, Birmingham, will restart later. Full-scale car production has restarted at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge, Birmingham.
Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) said nearly half the orders for its new model, the MG TF, which will come from the historic plant, have already been sold. Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) said it had sold 70% of the orders for its new model, the MG TF LE500.
The company has 55 dealers across the UK and believes the first cars will be with customers by next month.The company has 55 dealers across the UK and believes the first cars will be with customers by next month.
MG Rover, then owned by the Phoenix Consortium, collapsed in 2005 with the loss of about 6,000 jobs. MG Rover collapsed in 2005 with the loss of about 6,000 jobs. It was bought by Nanjing Automobile Corporation for £53m but they were taken over by SAIC.
The company was bought by the Nanjing Automobile Corporation for £53m but they were taken over by SAIC.
There are currently about 165 workers at Longbridge but the figure is likely to rise, according to the company.There are currently about 165 workers at Longbridge but the figure is likely to rise, according to the company.
SAIC said it hopes to produce 700 MG TFs by the end of the year. 'Looking forward'
The car will cost nearly £16,500. SAIC said it hoped to produce 700 of its sports cars by the end of the year. The model will cost nearly £16,500.
Eleanor De La Haye, of MG UK, said: "We are delighted to have reached this important point and are looking forward to seeing the cars in showrooms shortly."Eleanor De La Haye, of MG UK, said: "We are delighted to have reached this important point and are looking forward to seeing the cars in showrooms shortly."
Longbridge, opened in 1905 by motoring legend Herbert Austin, was home to the Metro and Rover 200 before being sold to BMW in 1994. Longbridge was opened in 1905 by motoring legend Herbert Austin.
But the MG Rover group went into administration in 2005 under the stewardship of the Phoenix Consortium. As well as producing cars, it was used as a munitions factory during both world wars and began production of the iconic Mini in 1959.
It also produced the popular Metro and Rover 200 models before the Rover company was bought by BMW in 1994.
BMW subsequently sold the firm to the Phoenix Consortium, under whom it went into administration in 2005.