MG's reborn TF drives into controversy

Union leaders at Amicus accused new owner Nanjing of giving the roadster a 'kit car' assembly at the revived Midlands plant.

The row came after the Chinese firm admitted that only 250 workers would be based at the factory. That's compared to the 6,000 staff once employed by MG Rover.

Nanjing had also initially said the plant would be used for "final assembly" of all right-hand-drive road­sters. Pro­duc­tion, however, would largely take place at the firm's all-new plant in Pukou in China.

But a spokesman for the firm has now told us: "The TF will be constructed, welded and painted at Longbridge, and even the body will be made with British steel. It's only the facia that is being built overseas, so fans shouldn't be disappointed."

A network of up to 90 dealers is expected to sell the new TF in the UK. Nanjing hopes to shift 89,000 MG models across Europe by 2009, once the final line-up is in place.

Meanwhile, a scan of Nanjing's online catalogue at www.nacmg.com reveals this futuristic MG design, which gives a hint of the look of the firm's new range.