MG Motor

History

Following the collapse of MG Rover in 2005, the Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile acquired the Longbridge plant and the MG marque for GB£53 million (US$97 million). Nanjing Automobile formally established NAC MG UK Limited as a holding company for the plant and marque on 12 April 2006. In March 2007, Nanjing Automobile unveiled the first MG vehicles manufactured in China, the MG TF, MG 3 and MG 7.

Assembly of cars restarted at Longbridge in August 2007, with production of the MG TF LE500.

In 2007, Nanjing Automobile was acquired by SAIC Motor, and in early 2009 NAC MG UK Limited was renamed MG Motor UK Limited.

The first all-new model from MG for 16 years, the MG6, was officially launched on 26 June 2011 during a visit to MG Motor's Longbridge plant by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. This car was imported briefly into the UK, but it was not a sales success and was withdrawn from sale in 2016.

By March 2012, SAIC had invested a total of £450 million in MG Motor. Sales in the UK totalled 782 vehicles in 2012.

The MG3 went on sale in the United Kingdom in September 2013.

MG Motor was voted third place for the ‘Best Manufacturer’ category in the Auto Express 2014 Driver Power survey. 2014 also saw MG celebrated its 90th birthday. MG enjoyed further celebrations with a record-breaking year that saw the company lead UK car industry growth in 2014. The brand’s sales rose by 361% during 2014 part thanks to the introduction of the MG3 to the product range, with a total of 2,326 cars sold in the UK.

On 23 September 2016 MG announced that all car production had ceased at Longbridge and henceforth MG vehicles would be imported into the UK.

Operations

MG Motor operated the historic Longbridge plant. There is a major research and development facility at the site which employs around 500 people, together with a design studio.

Until 2016, final assembly of some MG models took place at Longbridge using complete knock down kits produced in China. This activity was gradually reduced and in September 2016 it was announced that final assembly work at Longbridge would cease and all cars would be imported from China in a finished state, with the loss of 25 jobs.

MG has a £30 million flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly, which was opened in July 2015. Its location is 47-48 Piccadilly, opposite Fortnum & Mason.

Current

MG vehicles are designed and developed in the United Kingdom and China and manufactured in China.

MG GS

The MG GS is MG's first production SUV launched in 2015, with sales in the UK commencing in June 2016. The MG GS starts at £14,995, with a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine delivering 166 PS and 250NM Torque. The top of the range model also comes with the option of a 7 speed automatic transmission.

MG 5

The MG 5 was originally unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show as a concept model. It is a Ford Focus sized hatchback using the same base as the Roewe 350, and evokes the light two box design and elegant style of the original MG (Austin) Maestro model produced by the predecessor company. It was released for sale in China in 2012 but has never been exported to the UK.

MG 3

In 2010, MG unveiled the all new MG 3, which was shown in concept car form as the MG Zero. The car was initially launched in China with a choice of 1.3L or 1.5L petrol engines, and underwent a facelift in 2013, with sales in the UK following in September 2013.

During 2014 MG Motor UK was the fastest growing brand in Britain as shown by official figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Currently MG has the fastest growing network of dealers in the UK.

The MG3 was voted the 10th 'Best Car To Own' in the Auto Express Driver Power survey 2015.

MG ZS

Unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2016, the new MG ZS compact SUV is due for launch in the Chinese car market in the first half of 2017. It will be positioned below the MG GS. Sales in the U.K is scheduled to start in late 2017. There will be two engines available: a 1.5 with 120hp and 150Nm with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, also a brand new 1.0 3-cylinder turbo with 125hp and 170nm, with a 6-speed DCT or a 6-speed manual transmission.

MG Icon

MG unveiled the MG Icon concept car at the Beijing Auto Show in 2012. It is the first SUV concept car from the company and was created by the MG global design team headed by British director Anthony Williams-Kenny. The MG Icon takes inspiration from some of the legendary brand’s most famous sports cars including the MGA and MGB GT.

MG CS

The MG CS is a SUV concept that was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013. The CS previews MG’s first production SUV. The design team was led by MG’s Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny.

The concept car is designed to slot into the compact SUV sector, one of the fastest growing areas of the global automotive market where style and sports utility dominate fashion trends.

MG EV

The MG EV concept car was unveiled in 2014 based on the Roewe E50 to celebrate the marque’s 90th anniversary. The EV has a claimed acceleration 0-50 kph - 5.3 seconds and 0–100 km/h - 14.6 seconds with a top speed - 130 km/h. The LFP battery generates 52 kW and working in conjunction with the regenerative braking system enables a range of over 100 km. The battery retains more than 80% capacity after 2,000 charging cycles, equivalent to approximately ten years of typical use. The battery takes six hours to fully charge on a standard charge (220–240V), while a fast charge (380–400V) takes just 30 minutes.

MG3 Trophy

MG unveiled the MG3 Trophy Championship concept car at the MG90 event at Silverstone in June 2014.

The MG3 Trophy Championship concept, based on the MG3 production vehicle platform and created to highlight in-house engineering, design and calibration capabilities by SMTC UK at Longbridge, continues the MG tradition of club racing.

The racing concept was created solely by a team of engineers, managed by Vehicle Engineering Specialist Adrian Guyll, and based at SAIC Motor’s European Design and Technical Centre (SMTC), located alongside MG Motor UK at the Longbridge site in Birmingham. Specifications: 204 BHP 152 KW (increased from 106PS) Torque 250 Nm (increased from 136 NM) Boost 1.0 Bar 1.5 Vti Tech engine Full body-lightening programme without compromising on stiffness Limited slip differential Fully adjustable Macpherson strut front set up Bespoke anti-roll bar Adjustable front splitter Twin plane adjustable rear spoiler

MG TF

The MG TF brand was relaunched in Britain during 2007. An updated MG TF model produced in a limited edition of 500, called the TF LE500, was assembled at the Longbridge plant by NAC MG UK. This was followed by a TF 135 model and a further limited edition TF 85th Anniversary, of which only 50 were produced. Production of the TF at Longbridge was suspended again in October 2009 and finally ended in March 2011. MG have said that they will first concentrate on building passenger cars, and have not given a release date for the TF's successor.

MG3 SW

The MG3 SW, a car similar to the Rover Streetwise, was manufactured and sold in China between 2008 and 2011.

MG 6

The MG6 hatchback was announced in April 2009. It is based on the Roewe 550.

The MG6 went on sale in Europe in May 2011.

The MG6 GT received generally poor reviews, and the initial single engine choice (1.8 litre petrol) received some criticism. A 1.9 litre diesel engine was added in December 2012. It also had mixed reviews from some in the media as regards the quality of the lower dash plastics though some reviewers said the drive and handling made up for it.

A saloon version of the MG6, the MG6 Magnette, went on sale briefly in July 2011 after making its debut in June 2011.

The MG6 won the What Car? 2012 Security Award. In the Auto Express Driver Power survey in 2014 it won the 'Best Handling Award'., and came 6th overall in the ‘Best Car to Own’ category . In 2016 the MG6 won 3 awards: Auto Express Driver Power Best Family Car Bronze Winner, Auto Express Driver Power Road Handling Silver Winner. and The Caravan Club Tow Car of the year class winner under £17500.

The MG6 Facelift was launched in 2015, with an updated look, improved interior design including EPB. Enhancements were also made including a 75 kg (165 lb) reduction in weight to assist in reducing the emissions and improving fuel economy.

The MG6 was withdrawn from sale in the UK in 2016.

Motorsport

In January 2012, MG Motor announced that it would enter the 2012 British Touring Car Championship through the newly established MG KX Momentum Racing team. In its debut season the team ran two MG6s driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate. Plato ended the season in third place, with the car yet to find its feet in wet conditions.

The team returned in 2013 with Sam Tordoff driving, who performed well in his debut year having joined through the KX Academy scheme. Plato once again came third, with Tordoff sixth.

In 2014, MG won the Manufacturer's Championship to break Honda's four-year reign. After just three years of competition, the MG6 GT sealed the title by 95 points at the season finale at Brands Hatch.

Drivers Plato and Tordoff racked up seven wins and 20 podiums in the 30-race calendar. Plato finished the Driver's Championship in second place, behind Colin Turkington, while Tordoff finished seventh. The 2014 season also saw a third MG6 GT on the grid, driven by Marc Hynes and also maintained by Triple Eight but in a new livery which did not resemble the other two MG cars. Hynes finished his debut season in 18th.

For the 2015 campaign MG fought to regain the Manufacturers / Constructors title with a new driver lineup. 2013 Champion Andrew Jordan and young gun Jack Goff paired up in the MG6 to fight against Honda, BMW and Infiniti for the title. MG finished 2nd in the Manufacturers / Constructors title challenge, with Andrew and Jack in 5th and 9th position respectively in the drivers standings.

MG announced a new three-year contract extension with Triple Eight Racing for the 2016 BTCC campaign. The team plan was to bring in young and up-and-coming drivers with an intention to grow its own champion over the duration of the contract. Josh Cook, a former 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup Vice-Champion, and BTCC 2015 Jack Sears Trophy winner (award for the top rookie) and Ashley Sutton, graduating to BTCC after leaving the Renault Clio Cup as reigning 2015 champion, were announced as the new line up for MG. After a hard fought campaign the MG drivers finished in 12th and 13th place respectively, with Ash picking up the Jack Sears Trophy for the top rookie.