China Tools Up To Make 75

By Mat Watson

27th April 2005

In a three-page fax sent to a Hertfordshire company which produces the car's boot badge, the Asian firm laid out plans for the project and invited the supplier to become involved. It wants to make 26,000 of the luxury saloons next year, rising to 83,000 by 2010, and hitting 321,000 in total.

The Rover name is owned by BMW, but by sourcing badges SAIC seems confident it can secure the rights. The boss of the Herts manufacturer said: "I couldn't believe it. The last redundancy notices probably haven't reached the UK workers, and the Chinese are already making clear their plans."

A spokesman for the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, which is trying to help MG Rover employees get new jobs, commented: "We wish the circumstances were different, but the fact that some suppliers may be able to sell to SAIC offers a glimmer of hope to the companies hit hard."

Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers confirmed there had been enquiries about MG Rover's assets. A spokesman revealed: "We have received calls from more than 200 parties interested in all or part of the business and assets, 16 of which are from overseas." And there may be hope for MG. Venture capital firm Alchemy is looking at a plan to build sports cars at Longbridge.

Meanwhile, it has emerged MG Rover's marketing team hit the nail on the head with its final TV commercial - entitled 'Meltdown'. The promo was pulled just days before it was due to be screened for the first time because of the financial crisis.

The Longbridge Centenary event scheduled for 8-10 July will go ahead. Click on www.austinmotor.co.uk for more details.