MG plays name game

23rd January 2009

ITS name might be changing, but will that make MG’s sales figures any sweeter? 

Chinese owner Nanjing has announced it’s to become MG Motors UK, in a bid to boost the revamped British brand.

And it looks as if it needs it. At the moment, the firm has only one model: a limited-edition TF LE500 convertible. And only 133 of these have found homes since the launch last autumn – little more than one-quarter of the total run. In December, it sold just 10 cars.

A spokeswoman insisted the maker was “unaffected” by the recent financial crisis, however, confirming a volume version of the roadster, the 135, was still due for launch in the summer. Brand new hatchbacks and saloons are expected next year.

MG currently has a total of 44 showrooms in the UK, plus two authorised repairers.

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