Nanjing Automobile Planning MG Plant in Oklahoma

The UK car manufacturing industry received another blow yesterday when Nanjing Automobile announced it is planning to build MG cars in Oklahoma. Many had expected the lion’s share of MGs to be built at the old Rover base (Longbridge in Birmingham), but now, according to a report in The Times, most production will go to the US. The company’s engineering, design, sales and marketing departments will also operate out of the US.

The new American assembly plant is to be built at the Ardmore Air Park in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Headquarters for MG sales, marketing and distribution (outside of Asia and including Europe) will be located in Oklahoma City. Research and development will be in Norman at the University of Oklahoma.

According to the report, Nanjing will announce next Monday (17 July) that the Birmingham factory will build the MG TF roadster from 2008. However, analysts believe that annual MG production at Longbridge will be significantly less than at its sister factory at Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Nanjing has reduced its production commitments in the UK since it bought Rover’s assets. The Chinese manufacturer had initially committed to building 100,000 vehicles a year at Longbridge but this was cut to between 10,000 and 12,000. After a further reduction last month current production stands at around.