95-749: Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker established in 1952 through a joint venture between the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and the Donald Healey Motor Company (Healey), a renowned automotive engineering and design firm. Leonard Lord represented BMC and Donald Healey his firm. BMC merged with Jaguar Cars in 1966 to form British Motor Holdings (BMH). Donald Healey left BMH in 1968 when it merged into British Leyland . Healey then joined Jensen Motors , which had been making bodies for
190-670: A European headquarter in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, MG started selling the ZS EV in late 2019, and also sells its models through the Woonexpress home furnishings group's outlets. In February 2020, MG entered Norway, which has a mature electric vehicle market. Later that year, MG expanded to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Luxembourg. In 2021, MG entered Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Portugal. In November 2022, MG Motor merged its European and UK operations into
285-613: A SAIC Motor subsidiary, which was established in 2017 and started operations in 2019. The company acquired a former General Motors facility in Halol, Gujarat . It is the only region where MG acquired models from SAIC-GM-Wuling , such as the MG Hector and the MG Comet EV which are rebadged Baojun 530 and Wuling Air EV respectively. In November 2023, the company entered into a strategic joint venture with JSW Group , which allowed
380-607: A Thai conglomerate company. The plant has a total annual production capacity of 100,000 units. In 2018, SAIC Design opened a new advanced design studio in London, which deals with the advanced design of MG and Roewe vehicles. MG vehicles became available in the rest of Europe since late 2019 with the release of the ZS EV in the region. SAIC Motor established operations based in Amsterdam , Netherlands to oversee sales activities in
475-739: A collaborative agreement aiming to recreate the Austin Healey and Healey marques alongside NAC's MG . No timeline was given for the Healey and Austin-Healey brands to return, although production of the MG TF restarted in August that year, and the first all-new MG-branded model in 16 years, the MG6 , was launched 4 years later in 2011. The Nanjing Automobile Group later merged with the much larger SAIC Motor , transferring many former British assets including
570-799: A concept car that previews its first SUV model, the MG GS . The production version of the GS went on sale in China in March 2015. The GS went on sale in the UK in June 2016. MG Motor followed up the release of the GS with a smaller SUV, the ZS , which went on to become the most popular MG model globally. In 2018, the GS was replaced by the MG HS . The first production electric car from MG
665-564: A disused printing works which was less than ten years old. It was located seven miles south-west of Birmingham in the small village of Longbridge (then still within Worcestershire ). The following month The Austin Motor Company Limited was incorporated. In the last week of April 1906 a large body of motorists travelled to Longbridge "where snow lay full three inches deep on the ground and was still falling fast" to see
760-678: A grille badge simply saying "Montego", while the rear badges just said "Montego" and the engine size/trim level. A revamped Metro was launched in May 1990 and got the new K-series engine. It then became the Rover Metro. Despite sales of both the Maestro and Montego being in decline by 1990, these ranges continued in production until 1994 and never wore a Rover badge on their bonnets in Britain. They were, however, sometimes referred to as "Rovers" in
855-589: A joint venture between SAIC Motor and Charoen Pokphand , a Thai conglomerate company. The plant has a total annual production capacity of 100,000 units. The new plant replaced an older plant located in Rayong that was used since 2014, which had an annual production capacity of 50,000 units and had been closed since. In 2022, the facility exported 6,684 vehicles to Vietnam and Indonesia. In 2019, SAIC Motor opened its fourth factory in China located in Ningde, Fujian , that
950-622: A joint venture that is majority owned by SAIC. After MG Rover collapsed, Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) resumed production at the Longbridge plant in 2008. NAC used Longbridge to produce the MG TF, which they mildly redeveloped. SAIC took ownership of the MG brand, and from 2010 onwards, the MG6 was produced in China. From 13 April 2011, MG Motor started producing the MG6 at Longbridge. From 2013,
1045-549: A marque in its own right, under the Austin Morris division of British Leyland that had been virtually nationalised in 1975. It was upgraded at the end of 1981 to become the Austin Ambassador (and gaining a hatchback) but by that time there was little that could be done to disguise the age of the design, and it was too late to make much of an impact on sales. By the end of the 1970s, the future of Austin and
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#17327799799571140-540: A multi-year sponsorship with London football club Arsenal F.C. Previously, MG Motor has previously sponsored Copa Sudamericana , the secondary pan-continental clubs competition in South America, as well as French football club Olympique Lyonnais . MG Motor started selling cars in Australia since 2013 through a direct factory-backed operation, instead of local distributor-led operation. Between 2013 and 2016,
1235-525: A network of 42 dealerships nationwide. On 1 August 2023, SAIC Motor Philippines, Inc. (SMP), a subsidiary of SAIC became the new distributor and importer of MG products and services, with a total of 44 MG-branded dealerships across the country. In Singapore, Eurokars Group was appointed the official distributor of MG cars in October 2019 and launched two models, the electric MG ZS EV and the MG HS SUV, at
1330-468: A new marque, Austin-Healey , and a range of sports cars. With the threat to fuel supplies resulting from the 1956 Suez Crisis , Lord asked Alec Issigonis , who had been with Morris from 1936 to 1952, to design a small car; the result was the revolutionary Mini , launched in 1959. The Austin version was initially called the Austin Seven, but Morris' Mini Minor name caught the public imagination and
1425-521: A single business. During the first half of 2023, MG along with Tesla are two brands with the largest growth in Europe. According to JATO Dynamics , the brand registered 104,300 vehicles in H1 2023, a growth of 128 percent compared to H1 2022. The sales increase was attributed to the introduction of the popular MG4 EV . Electric vehicles are MG Motor's strength in the market, as unlike other manufacturers, SAIC
1520-554: A slightly larger body with 1489 cc engine – was on the market in Japan. Nissan produced 20,855 Austins between 1953 and 1959. During the Second World War Austin continued building cars but also made trucks and aircraft, including Short Stirling and Avro Lancaster bombers. The post-war car range was announced in 1944, and production started in 1945. The immediate post-war range was mainly similar to that of
1615-537: A sports car “with the DNA of a Healey 3000” in coupe and convertible versions, as well as a cheaper car likened to an Austin Healey Sprite. HFI announced that deposits of £1000 were being taken, and prototypes were to be shown later that year. No prototypes were shown, but it was reported that HFI developed and tested a running prototype. In June 2007, Nanjing and Healey Automobile Consultants / HFI Automotive signed
1710-536: A subsidiary of SAIC. In February 2024, MG Motor started assembling electric vehicles in a facility owned by another SAIC subsidiary, SGMW Motor Indonesia , which include the MG4 EV and MG ZS EV . MG operated in the Philippine market in 2015 until 2018 under Morris Garages Philippines. From October 2018 to July 2023, The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) was the distributor and importer of MG brand vehicles, with
1805-592: A tie-up to develop a new petrol engine family called the SGE , which include 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 litres, all turbocharged . The engine family are used in many MG models. The first all-new MG-branded model for 16 years, the MG6 , was officially launched on 26 June 2011 during a visit to MG Motor Longbridge plant by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao . By March 2012, SAIC had invested a total of £450 million in MG Motor. The MG3 supermini or small hatchback went on sale in
1900-740: A vertical engine and, in all but minor detail, was identical to the English-built Clément-Gladiators assembled in the same factory. A further injection of capital was needed in 1906 and William Harvey Du Cros (1846–1918) joined the board of directors. After that Harvey Du Cros junior of the Swift Cycle Co and Austin each held approximately half of the ordinary capital. Herbert Austin remained chairman and managing director. Austin's cars, like Wolseley's, were luxury vehicles. The published customer list included Russian Grand Dukes, Princesses, Bishops, high officials of
1995-581: Is a European-focused C-segment hatchback with a dedicated electric vehicle platform called the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). The XPower variant, borrowing its name from MG's older performance line, went on sale in 2023. In 2023, MG introduced another electric car and its first roadster , the Cyberster , which went on sale in 2024. In 2024, MG introduced the new generation of the three of its internal combustion engine vehicles,
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#17327799799572090-476: Is mainly used for producing and exporting MG vehicles. It is SAIC’s fourth factory in China, after plants in Shanghai, Nanjing and Zhengzhou. The 5-billion yuan ($ 702 million) factory is capable of producing up to 240,000 vehicles a year at full capacity, increasing SAIC's annual production capacity in China from 740,000 to 980,000 vehicles. The first vehicle produced in the plant was the plug-in hybrid version of
2185-488: Is not restricted on traction battery supply and production volume. In July 2023, Yu De, general manager of SAIC's international business department stated that Europe market is will be SAIC's largest overseas market, with annual vehicle sales predicted to surpass 200,000 units in the longer term. The company indicated that it is studying plans to establish a manufacturing base in Europe. As of July 2023 , MG Motor asserted its position of not having official presence in
2280-931: Is the eZS (ZS EV outside China), which was announced at the 2018 Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Based on the ZS SUV, the vehicle became available in export markets such as the UK and Europe as the MG ZS EV since 2019. The ZS EV was followed by the MG5 SW EV (a rebadged Roewe Ei5 ), which went on sale in the UK in September 2020 and in Thailand in November 2020 (as the MG EP). The MG4 EV , introduced in July 2022, helped MG increase its sales in Europe significantly. The model
2375-586: The 1100 of 1963, (although the Morris-badged version was launched 13 months earlier than the Austin, in August 1962), the 1800 of 1964 and the Maxi of 1969. This meant that BMC had spent 10 years developing a new range of front-drive, transverse-engined models, while most competitors had only just started to make such changes. The big exception to this was the Austin 3-litre . Launched in 1968, it
2470-654: The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. The rights to the Austin name later passed to British Aerospace and later BMW when each bought the Rover Group . In 2001, BMW revealed the “Project Warwick” concept, a retro-styled , modern interpretation of the Austin Healey built around the aluminium chassis from the BMW Z8 . It is believed that Project Warwick advanced sufficiently enough to necessitate talks with
2565-883: The Dixi ); by the Japanese manufacturer Datsun ; as the Bantam in the United States; and as the Rosengart in France. In England the Austin was the most produced car in 1930. The American Austin Car Company struggled to sell tiny Austin cars in the US market. It operated as a largely independent subsidiary from 1929 to 1934 was revived after bankruptcy under the name " American Bantam " from 1937 to 1941. They became best known as
2660-432: The Longbridge plant in the UK from 2007 to 2016, before reverting to sourcing vehicles directly from China. In China, MG is also known by its Chinese name "名爵" ; Míngjué , and it is one of several passenger car brands directly owned by SAIC, alongside IM Motors , Rising Auto , Roewe and Maxus ( LDV for some export markets). Outside China, MG has been positioned as SAIC's primary brand. Since 2019, it has become
2755-551: The MG 3 also saw some limited final assembly at the same factory. Activity at Longbridge was later gradually reduced. In September 2016, MG Motor ended production at the Longbridge facility, with Matthew Cheyne, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK, citing "moving production abroad was a necessary business decision". Cheyne claimed that the company "did no actual production there", with workers only performing minimal additions for
2850-603: The MG HS . In most markets outside UK and Europe, MG vehicles are fitted with a "Brit Dynamics" emblem, as part of the "Brit Dynamics" marketing campaign that highlights "British" engineering, styling and driving behaviour. Starting 2016, MG is a sponsorship partner of football club Liverpool F.C. Initially a regional partnership for the Chinese market, since July 2019 MG extended their existing long-term regional relationship to incorporate global markets. The partnership ended in mid-2022. In January 2024, MG Motor UK announced
2945-462: The MG TF LE500, MG TF135 and MG TF 85th Anniversary models also restarted at the Longbridge plant in the UK. On 26 December 2007, NAC merged into SAIC, becoming its subsidiary. This merger granted SAIC full control of NAC MG and resolved a production bottleneck for its Roewe brand, as NAC owned the rights to Rover engine production and other key technologies. In early 2009, NAC MG UK Limited
Austin-Healey - Misplaced Pages Continue
3040-482: The Midland Bank thereby allowing Austin to keep virtually total ownership of his own business through his personal savings. Further assistance came from Dunlop patent holder Harvey du Cros . However, Austin's great rival, William Morris , was able to enter the industry proper (he first repaired cars) a little later funding his operation entirely from his own resources. In November 1905 Herbert Austin acquired
3135-583: The Roewe brand to produce and market the former Rover vehicles in China. On 12 April 2006, NAC formally established NAC MG UK Limited as the UK-based holding company for the Longbridge plant and the MG marque. Production of MG vehicles, including the MG TF , MG3 , and MG7 , resumed at an NAC facility in Nanjing on 27 March 2007, with production tooling shipped from Longbridge. In August 2008, production of
3230-592: The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a , but also produced a number of its own designs. None of these progressed past the prototype stage. They included: MG Motor MG Motor is an automotive brand owned by SAIC Motor , a Chinese state-owned carmaker based in Shanghai . It is a continuation of the original MG marque , a British brand founded in Oxford , UK, in 1924. SAIC Motor gained control of
3325-482: The Seven , Austin weathered the worst of the depression and remained profitable through the 1930s, producing a wider range of cars which was steadily updated by the introduction of all-steel bodies, Girling brakes, and synchromesh gearboxes. However, all the engines retained the same side-valve configuration. Deputy chairman Ernest Payton became chairman in 1941 on the death of Lord Austin. In 1938 Leonard Lord joined
3420-494: The Vickers brothers Austin started a separate car manufacturing business still using the name Wolseley. In 1905 he fell out with Thomas and Albert Vickers over engine design. Leaving his creation, Wolseley , which he had made Britain's largest motor vehicle manufacturer, Austin obtained the backing of steel magnate Frank Kayser for his own enterprise. Kayser provided funds through mortgages and loans, debentures and guarantees to
3515-404: The original Wolseley business, which had a highly cyclical sales pattern, Herbert Austin searched for products with a steady demand. Starting in 1895, he built three cars in his free time. They were among Britain's first cars. The third car, a four-wheeler, was completed in 1899. By 1901 his fellow directors could not see future profit in motor vehicles and so with their blessing and the backing of
3610-538: The " big Healeys " since their inception in 1952, and became their chairman in 1972. Austin-Healey cars were produced until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to an end. The Austin Healey was extensively raced by the Donald Healey Motor Company in Europe at Le Mans and at Sebring in the U.S., in classic rallies by the BMC competitions department, and was recognised from
3705-568: The 1661 cc Twelve in 1922 and, later the same year, the Seven , an inexpensive, simple small car and one of the earliest to be directed at a mass market. One of the reasons for a market demand for a cars like the Austin 7 was the British tax code . In 1930 every personal car was taxed by its engine size, which in American dollars was $ 2.55 per cubic inch of piston displacement. As an example,
3800-487: The 2020 Singapore Motorshow. 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
3895-413: The African continent under its current incarnation. MG vehicles are assembled and distributed in Pakistan by MG JW Automobile Pakistan, part of local company JW Auto Park owned by local businessman Javed Afridi . In 2020, it introduced three SUVs in Pakistan, namely the MG HS , ZS and ZS EV . The company set up an assembly plant in Raiwind , Lahore , which also assembles MG electric cars alongside
Austin-Healey - Misplaced Pages Continue
3990-525: The Arrow 2, a two seater version of the Arrow, alongside announcing an electric commercial Austin van to be released approximately 18-24 months after the launch of the Arrow 1 and 2. By May 2023, a production line had been set up in Rajkot, India . The Austin Arrow subsequently entered production in October 2023. Austin started his business in an abandoned print works at Longbridge , Birmingham. Due to its strategic advantages over Morris 's Cowley plant, Longbridge became British Leyland 's main factory in
4085-426: The Austin badge was phased out and Austin Rover became the Rover Group from the following year. The Austin cars continued to be manufactured, although they ceased to be Austins. They became "marque-less" in their home market with bonnet badges the same shape as the Rover longship badge but without "Rover" written on them. Instead any badging just showed the model of the car: a Montego of this era, for instance, would have
4180-488: The Austin marque to SAIC. In 2015, British company Healy Designs revealed the 'Enigma', a Mazda MX-5 based modern interpretation of a Big Healey. The kit car features a retro style fibreglass body atop an MX-5 chassis, with either a 2.0 litre Mazda engine or a larger V8 from a Lexus or Corvette . Austin Motor Company The Austin Motor Company Limited was a British manufacturer of motor vehicles , founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin in Longbridge. In 1952 it
4275-450: The Austin trademark. The agreement called for Nissan to make all Austin parts locally within three years, a goal Nissan met. Nissan produced and marketed Austins for seven years. The agreement also gave Nissan rights to use Austin patents, which Nissan used in developing its own engines for its Datsun line of cars. In 1953, British-built Austins were assembled and sold, but by 1955, the Austin A50 – completely assembled by Nissan and featuring
4370-447: The Healey family, although these talks ultimately broke down and the project was cancelled due to a lack of marque ownership rights. BMW later sold the Rover group to the Phoenix Consortium for a nominal £10, creating the MG Rover Group . During the sale of the MG Rover group following its bankruptcy, Professor Krish Bhaskar, a bidder for the company, revealed the Austin Healey 3000 inspired “Project Tempest” in 2005. Bhaskar stated that
4465-571: The Longbridge facility in Birmingham, UK . Longbridge was formerly home to Austin , British Leyland , Rover Group and, later, the MG Rover Group . Currently, most of the design, development and R&D takes place in China by SAIC Motor R&D Innovation Headquarters (SRIH). The Longbridge facility has been retained as the base to SAIC Motor Technical Centre UK (SMTC), which had significant design and engineering input into SAIC products globally. SMTC once employed around 500 people at its peak. SAIC reduced its presence in Longbridge in 2019 with
4560-535: The Longbridge plant under the MG, Rover and Austin-Healey marques, with the MG XPower SV being rebadged as an Austin-Healey. The idea to produce Austin-Healey branded cars was later dropped and the deal subsequently stalled. After Donald Healey sold his original Donald Healey Motor Company , the Healey brand was registered to a new firm, Healey Automobile Consultants ; the Healey family sold this successor company to British-American consortium HFI Automotive in 2005. In February 2006, HFI Automotive announced plans for
4655-422: The MG brand. MG Motor started producing vehicles in India since 2019, where some of the products are sourced from corporate sibling SAIC-GM-Wuling . Products such as the MG Hector and MG Comet EV are exclusive to India. The marque also offered commercial vehicles only for Thailand, such as the MG V80 and MG Extender which are sourced from Maxus. At the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2013, MG showcased
4750-422: The MG marque, the Longbridge plant , and its production tooling for £53 million (US$ 97 million). NAC outbid the larger SAIC Motor, which had also sought to acquire the brand. Although SAIC was able to secure the intellectual property rights for the Rover 75 and Rover 25 models, it was unable to acquire the Rover trademark, which was purchased by Ford from BMW in 2006. SAIC responded by creating created
4845-514: The MG3, MG HS, and MG ZS. The new generation HS is a rebadged model of the Chinese market Roewe RX5 . The most popular MG Motor product in international markets is the MG ZS . It is one of the most exported car from China, with 201,874 units exported from China to international markets in 2023, not including the MG ZS EV with 49,418 units exported. Total cumulative sales of the ZS since its introduction reached 999,612 units as of December 2023 . MG Motor cars were once engineered by SAIC at
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#17327799799574940-405: The Morris version outsold its Austin twin, so the Austin's name was changed to Mini to follow suit. In 1970, British Leyland dropped the separate Austin and Morris branding of the Mini, and it was subsequently simply "Mini", under the Austin Morris division of BLMC. The principle of a transverse engine with gearbox in the sump and driving the front wheels was applied to larger cars, beginning with
5035-439: The Nanjing International Exhibition in May 2006, Nanjing announced it might use the Austin name on some of the revived MG Rover models, at least in the Chinese market. Nanjing Automobile Group itself later merged with SAIC Motor . In 2012, a new "Austin Motor Company" was registered by former Longbridge worker Steve Morgan. Morgan had no rights to the brand itself and stated that he had no intention to trade, but rather registered
5130-422: The Russian market, due to the complications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine . In June 2024, the European Commission imposed an additional 38.1 percent import duty on top of the existing 15 percent to SAIC Motor electric vehicles imported to the European Union , including MG Motor, following EU's anti-subsidy investigation into SAIC and other Chinese manufacturers. The tariffs subjected to SAIC vehicles are
5225-402: The Spanish government and a long list of Britain's highest nobility. Sources Note: in 1912 Wolseley sold 3,000 cars. In February 1914 Austin-manufactured bodies in tourer, limousine, landaulette and coupé styles could be provided with engines of 15, 20, 30 and 60 hp. Ambulances and commercial vehicles were also provided. Austin became a public listed company in 1914 when the capital
5320-453: The UK in September 2013, after being previewed as the MG Zero concept car in 2010. Following multiple rounds of workforce cuts, on 23 September 2016, MG Motor announced that all vehicle production had ceased at the Longbridge plant. The closure affected 25 jobs at the assembly plant, while sales, marketing and after-sales departments based in the Longbridge complex were unaffected. The company cites "improving production scale efficiencies" as
5415-513: The brand in December 2007 by acquiring Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC), which had initially taken over the brand from the defunct MG Rover Group in 2005. Currently, MG operates as a division within SAIC's passenger vehicle branch. MG vehicles are designed and developed by SAIC, and manufacturing mainly takes place at SAIC's plants in China. Additionally, SAIC produces MG vehicles in Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan for their respective regional markets. The brand briefly assembled cars at
5510-487: The brand sold a single model, the MG6, with the MG3, MG6, and the GS joining in 2016. In the country, the brand went from selling just 600 cars in 2017 to 58,346 units in 2023, becoming the seventh best-selling brand in Australia. The brand's popularity in the country were widely attributed to its competitive pricing. MG Motor started its sales operations in continental Europe in late 2019 separate from its UK operations, when company established SAIC Motor Europe B.V. and
5605-462: The car would use running gear from the MG XPower SV covered with a lightweight aluminium body. Bhaskar’s bid failed however, and the project never came to fruition. The Austin name was subsequently owned by China's Nanjing Automobile Group , which bought the assets of MG Rover Group out of bankruptcy in 2005. Nanjing signed a collaborative agreement with GB Sports Car , a company founded by former Rover officials, aiming to bring back production at
5700-490: The company board and became chairman in 1946 on the death of Ernest Payton. In 1932, Datsun built cars infringing Austin patents. From 1934, Datsun began to build Sevens under licence and this operation became the greatest success of Austin's overseas licensing of its Seven. It marked the beginning of Datsun's international success. In 1952, Austin entered into another agreement with Datsun for assembly of 2,000 imported Austins from "knock-down kits", to be sold in Japan under
5795-463: The early 1970s. Following the Austin marque's discontinuance in 1987, Rover and MG continued to use the plant. The collapse of MG Rover meant it was not used from 2005 until MG production resumed from 2008 until 2016. The plant is currently leased by SAIC as a research and development facility for its MG Motor Subsidiary. For a list see : Austin Commercial Vehicles During the First World War Austin built aircraft under licence, including
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#17327799799575890-490: The eighth best-selling brand in Mexico with a market share of 4.4 percent. MG vehicles officially sold in the GCC market are imported and distributed by Auto Class Cars in Qatar , Inter Emirates Motors in the UAE , Zayani Motors of Bahrain , Jiad Modern Motors of Saudi Arabia , Mohsin Haider Darwish of Oman and Adel Alghanim Automotive in Kuwait . MG vehicles are being distributed in Morocco by Abdul Latif Jameel since early 2023, making it MG Motors’ first market on
5985-496: The end of the decade. April 1984 saw the introduction of the Maestro-derived Montego saloon, successor to the Morris Ital . The new car received praise for its interior space and comfort as well as its handling, but early build-quality problems took time to overcome. The spacious estate version, launched six months later, was one of the most popular load carriers in Britain for several years after its launch. In 1986, Austin Rover's holding company BL plc became Rover Group plc and
6080-409: The first company to submit the Bantam Reconnaissance Car working prototype, saving time by using Austin nose and fender parts of what would evolve into the extremely successful and iconic WWII Willys MB "Jeep". The design was unfortunately handed over to Willys and Ford for production with a revised nose and fender design, while Bantam would largely just build trailers during the war. With the help of
6175-403: The highest among Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that are affected. SAIC MG released a statement condemning the decision, noting that the tariffs are a form of unfair market discrimination that went against the principles of free trade . MG reported that it delivered 231,818 vehicles in the European market in 2023. On 26 June, after receiving more information from the SAIC, the EU reduced
6270-600: The large Technical Centre downsized to 20 staff and moved to London. The facility used to host a design studio, before moving to London. SAIC Design Advanced London in London, UK at Marylebone Road succeeded the Longbridge design studio. Led by Carl Gotham and Robert Lemmens with 20 employees, the studio conducted some key design work for MG vehicles and works in conjunction with the automotive manufacturer's other studios to support future product designs for brands including MG, Roewe and Rising Auto . Some MG models particularly in India were developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling ,
6365-425: The largest single-brand car exporter from China. In 2023, MG Motor sold approximately 840,000 vehicles globally, with 88 percent of those sales coming from markets outside of China. MG was established in 1924 by Cecil Kimber in Oxford, UK. After a series of ownership changes, including a merger with Austin to form the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and later British Leyland , MG faced financial struggles in
6460-631: The late 1930s but did include the 16 hp, significant for having the company's first overhead valve engine. Austin J40 pedal cars were manufactured during this era. From late 1950 to mid-1952 products, brochures and advertisements displayed in flowing script Austin of England as if in response to Morris' Nuffield Organization . It fell out of use with the financial merger with Morris in BMC. In 1952, The Austin Motor Company Limited merged ownership, but not identity, with long-term rival Morris Motors Limited , becoming The British Motor Corporation Limited , with Leonard Lord in charge. William Morris
6555-463: The late 20th century. In 1994, BMW acquired Rover Group , which included MG, but sold off the marque in 2000 due to ongoing financial losses. MG and Rover was then purchased by Phoenix Venture Holdings , a consortium owned by four British businessmen, forming MG Rover Group . The company went into administration in 2005, with debts of over £1.4 billion. Following MG Rover's collapse, in July 2005, Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) purchased
6650-488: The latter to acquire 35% in the company due to restriction by the Indian government of receiving funding from China. Following the tie-up, the company was renamed to JSW MG Motor India. MG Motor entered the Mexican market in late 2020. From October 2020 to April 2021, the brand opened 34 dealerships in the country and has sold over 2,000 vehicles. In 2023, the brand sold 60,128 units in the country, representing an increase of 25 percent compared to 2022. In that year, MG became
6745-493: The name as an effort to preserve the memory of the company. The company was dissolved in 2014. In 2015, the "Austin Motor Company", alongside the 1930's "Flying A" logo was registered by British Engineer John Stubbs, owner of specialist suspension company Black Art Designs. By 2021, a prototype electric vehicle named the Austin Arrow had been revealed and was seeking investors, with a supposed release date around late 2022. The revived Austin Motor Company subsequently revealed
6840-580: The new Austin car, a conventional four-cylinder model with chain drive. It was available as a 15/20 hp complete at £500 (chassis, £425) and a 25/30 hp for £650 (chassis, £550). The sole concessionaire for sale of the cars was Mr Harvey Du Cros junior . Two things were noticeable about Austin's new design. He had parted from the Vickers brothers because he had refused to use the then more conventional vertical engine in Wolseley cars. His new car had
6935-455: The nickname "Flying pig" as well as the doubtful build quality and indifferent reliability. It was still a strong seller in Britain, although not as successful as its predecessor. The wedge-shaped 18/22 series was launched as an Austin, a Morris and a more upmarket Wolseley in 1975. But within six months, it was rechristened the Princess and wore none of the previous marque badges, becoming
7030-474: The owner of an Austin 7 in England, which sold for approximately $ 455, would have to pay a yearly engine tax of $ 39. In comparison, the owner in England of a Ford Model-A would have to pay $ 120 per year in an engine tax. And this system of engine displacement tax was common in other European nations as well in the 1930s. At one point, the "Baby Austin" was built under licence by the fledgling BMW of Germany (as
7125-570: The petrol-powered cars. MG vehicles in Thailand are locally assembled in Chonburi by SAIC Motor-CP Co., Ltd., a joint venture between SAIC Motor (51 percent) Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (49 percent). MG vehicles are distributed in Thailand by MG Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The brand debuted in the country in March 2014 at the 2014 Bangkok Motor Show . MG Motor entered the Indonesian market in March 2020 under PT SAIC Motor Indonesia,
7220-566: The press and elsewhere. Their place in the Rover range was gradually filled by a new generation of Rover models. The rights to the Austin name passed to British Aerospace and then to BMW when each bought the Rover Group. The rights were subsequently sold to MG Rover , created when BMW sold the business. Following MG Rover's collapse and sale, Nanjing Automobile Group owned the Austin name and Austin's historic assembly plant in Longbridge. At
7315-657: The proposed tariffs from 38.1 percent to 37.6 percent. In July 2024, SAIC issued a statement stating that it would formally request the European Commission to hold a hearing on the anti-subsidy investigation. It was reported that 7 out of every 10 cars exported from China to Europe in 2024 (up to September) are from MG. Zhu Yong, the deputy general manager of SAIC Passenger Vehicle, remarked that, "we don't make money in China, but we can still make money internationally even if tariffs are added." MG-branded vehicles are manufactured and distributed by MG Motor India ,
7410-503: The purchase of Jaguar and in December 1966 changed its name from BMC to BMH, British Motor Holdings Limited . In early 1968 under government pressure BMH merged with Leyland Motors Limited and Austin became a part of the large British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) combine. One of Austin's new models of this era was the 1973 Allegro , successor to the 1100/1300 ranges. It was criticised for its bulbous styling which earned it
7505-402: The reason of the plant closure, promising that production in China will "allow faster access to product and help to meet ever-increasing customer demand." Since then, MG vehicles had been imported from China into the UK. In December 2017, the MG Motor opened its first overseas plant outside China and UK, located in Chonburi , Thailand. It is a joint venture between SAIC and Charoen Pokphand ,
7600-472: The recovery was the appointment in 1922 of a new finance director, Ernest Payton with the backing of the Midland Bank, and a new works director in charge of car production, Carl Engelbach, at the insistence of the creditors' committee. This triumvirate of Austin, Payton and Engelbach steered the company's fortunes through the interwar years. In a quest to expand market share, smaller cars were introduced,
7695-635: The region. During the 2020s, MG saw significant sales increase in UK and Europe. This growth was primarily driven by the expansion of its dealer network and the introduction of several new electric vehicle models. Between 2020 and 2023, MG was one of the fastest-growing brand in UK and Europe, where it posted growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic , during which many other brands experienced a decline in sales. Sales of MG vehicles in Australia also quadrupled between 2020 and 2023 due to its attractive pricing. The MG4 EV , MG's first ground-up-developed EV that
7790-652: The rest of British Leyland (now known as BL) was looking bleak. The Austin Metro , launched in October 1980, was heralded as the saviour of Austin Motor Company and the whole BL combine. Twenty-one years after the launch of the Mini, it gave BL a much-needed modern supermini to compete with the recently launched likes of the Ford Fiesta , Vauxhall Nova , VW Polo and Renault 5 . It was an instant hit with buyers and
7885-467: The three models, the MG3 , MG6 and MG GS that came as knock-down kits . 25 employees were made redundant as a result of the move and other employees moved to different areas. This marked the end of MG production in the UK, and production was fully moved to China. In December 2017, MG Motor opened its first overseas plant outside China in UK in Chonburi , Thailand. The plant was established and operated by
7980-551: The very beginning by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Healey models raced in club racing in D, E, F, G, an H production classes, winning National Championships in all five classes. The last Big Healey to win an SCCA National Championship was the class E Production Austin-Healey 100-6 driven by Alan Barker at the Daytona ARRC in 1965. In 1953, a special streamlined Austin-Healey set several land speed records at
8075-470: The war Herbert Austin decided on a one-model policy based on the 3620 cc 20 hp engine. Versions included cars, commercials and even a tractor, but sales volumes were never enough to fill the vast factory built during wartime. The company went into receivership in 1921 but rose again after financial restructuring. Though Herbert Austin remained chairman he was no longer managing director and from that time decisions were made by committee. Critical to
8170-541: Was privatised by selling it to British Aerospace (BAe) in 1988. Plans to replace the Metro with a radical new model, based on the ECV3 research vehicle and aiming for 100 mpg, led to the Austin AR6 of 1984–86, with several prototypes tested and production expected to start before the end of the decade. The desire to lose the Austin name and take Rover "upmarket" led to this project's demise in early 1987. In 1988,
8265-518: Was a rear-wheel drive large car, but it shared the central section of the 1800. It was a sales disaster, with fewer than 10,000 examples being made. BMC was the first British manufacturer to move into front-wheel drive so comprehensively. Ford did not launch its first front-drive model until 1976 (in Britain), Ford-Germany in 1962 with the Taunus 12M(P4), while Vauxhall's first front-drive model
8360-458: Was first chairman but soon retired. Lord, who had stormed out of Morris declaring he would "take Cowley apart brick by brick", ensured Austin was the dominant partner and its (more recently designed OHV) engines were adopted for most of the cars. Various models followed the Morris policy and became badge-engineered versions of each other. In 1952 Austin made a deal with Donald Healey leading to
8455-556: Was increased to £650,000. At that time in number of cars produced it probably ranked fifth after Wolseley (still largest), Humber , Sunbeam and Rover . The Austin Motor Co. grew enormously during the First World War fulfilling government contracts for aircraft, shells, heavy guns and generating sets and 1,600 three-ton trucks most of which were sent to Russia. The workforce expanded from around 2,500 to 22,000. After
8550-401: Was launched in 1979 and Chrysler UK's first such car was launched in 1975. Front-wheel drive was popular elsewhere in Europe, however, with Renault , Citroen and Simca all using the system at the same time or before BMC. East Germany's Trabant used the system from 1958. In September 1965 BMC completed the purchase of its major supplier, Pressed Steel . Twelve months later it completed
8645-515: Was launched in 2022, significantly contributed to driving MG's sales growth and received widespread acclaim from the press. Initial MG Motor products consisted of refreshed MG Rover vehicles, such as the MG TF , the first-generation MG3 and the first-generation MG7 . MG Motor began releasing new vehicles in 2011, starting with the MG6 then the second-generation MG3 . MG Motor also markets rebadged vehicles from parent company SAIC Motor such as Roewe and Maxus , alongside vehicles dedicated for
8740-446: Was merged with Morris Motors Limited in the new holding company British Motor Corporation (BMC) Limited , keeping its separate identity. The marque Austin was used until 1987 by BMC's successors British Leyland and Rover Group . The trademark is currently owned by the Chinese firm SAIC Motor , after being transferred from bankrupt subsidiary Nanjing Automotive which had acquired it with MG Rover Group in July 2005. While running
8835-512: Was one of the most popular British cars of the 1980s. It was intended as a replacement for the Mini but the Mini went on to outlast it. It was facelifted in October 1984 and gained a 5-door version. In 1982, most of the car division of the by now somewhat shrunken British Leyland (BL) company was rebranded as the Austin Rover Group , with Austin acting as the "budget" and mainstream brand to Rover's more luxurious models. The MG badge
8930-483: Was renamed MG Motor UK Limited and became the national sales company for the UK market. In October 2008, SAIC began exporting the Roewe 750 and 550 to Chile under the MG brand, rebranded as the MG 750 and MG 550. The company stated that the MG brand, compared to SAIC's own Roewe, has the "popularity, loyalty, and premiumness" necessary to compete in export markets, including Europe. In 2011, SAIC and General Motors which are joint venture partners in China announced
9025-507: Was revived for sporty versions of the Austin models, of which the MG Metro 1300 was the first. The Morris and Triumph brands were axed in 1984. Austin revitalised its entry into the small family-car market in March 1983 with the launch of its all-new Maestro , a spacious five-door hatchback that replaced the elderly Allegro and Maxi and was popular in the early years of its production life, although sales had started to dip dramatically by
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