Doh! All plans for return of MG to U.S. dead
Blame gas prices. Blame the housing market. Blame the dollar for being worth much less than it was in 2005. But ultimately, you'll probably need to blame the Chinese for the total lack of MGs being sold in the U.S.
Despite initial plans by MG's new owner, Nanjing Automobile Group Corp., to sell a U.S. version of the TF roadster, the company now says conditions are just wrong here in the States. "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," Gary Hagen, marketing director of NAC MG, says in a story on Austin Rover Online. Of course, with the car also goes any hopes of a U.S. assembly plant in Oklahoma. The final twist of the knife is Hagen killing any hope of the company shipping Chinese-made kits to the U.S. for assembly.
Buck up, MG fans. You've waited 20 years. What's another 20? Right?
[Source: Austin Rover Online via Automotive News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iSpec 5:36PM (8/26/2008)
Maybe it's not so easy to bring another brand to North America.
Reply
Tourian 6:28PM (8/26/2008)
Probably not. The dealer network is probably the toughest part. Most dealer groups are hurting right now and there doesn't seem to be much incentive IMO to build new showrooms just for this brand. And they probably don't want to be dueled with anything else so it really doesn't leave much room for just a handful of cars. Because Tata owns LR the obvious solution just probably couldn't happen having them sold at current LR dealers.
Aprime 5:48PM (8/26/2008)
Are you insinuating that MG has fans?
...
ha.
Reply
Flashpoint 6:01PM (8/26/2008)
trust me, you don't want Chinese auto's coming here unless they are held to the strictest of safety requirements. Otherwise, you'll get a bunch of cheap, poorly made cars that put lives at risk.
Reply
paul34 6:30PM (8/26/2008)
Okay! We'll trust you! Thanks!
imoore 7:21PM (8/26/2008)
In that case, you'll be interested to know that Tiger Trucks is building the Champ 4500 in Oklahoma right now. It's a Chang'An truck sent from china in kit form and assembled here, and it's the same size of a full-sized pickup. Visit their website, and you'll see a picture of the Champ parked next to a Chevy Silverado for comparison. It's priced at around $13,000 and-get this-though it's not legal for use on US roads, you can drive it legally on Oklahoma highways on roads limited to 55 MPH. Suprising, especially since this thing has a 3-cycle diesel engine with a top speed of 35 MPH. Yes, they're here, and you can drive one on the road in Oklahoma. Forget Nanjing and the others.
motang 6:02PM (8/26/2008)
Well that just sucks...well lets hope when the US economy gets better.
Reply
indi 6:59PM (8/26/2008)
Exactly. No-one in their right mind wants a Chinese-built travesty calling itself an MG. They have chosen well in deciding not to bring it here.
Reply
andrew 8:31PM (8/26/2008)
no one wants a travesty called mg that happens to be built in china. ther you go, i've fixed your post.
tom 9:49AM (8/27/2008)
An inexpensive compact mid-engined sports car? I'll take one. It's not like the original MGs were safe or well built. The Chinese ones can't be that much worse.
ugg.tryptophan 7:40PM (8/26/2008)
like anyone was begging for mg to return?
Reply
Rocketboy 8:16AM (8/27/2008)
Well, not in this form at least
Simon 8:02PM (8/26/2008)
Why do you want a Chinese made Modern Gentleman anyway?
Reply
James 10:15PM (8/26/2008)
A Chinese product not headed for the USA, I'd say this is great news!!!
Reply
tankd0g 11:45PM (8/26/2008)
The USA already has enough near bankrupt car companies.
Reply
watdafuk 9:12PM (8/27/2008)
As well as enough chinese crap being slod here already.
Borger 8:47AM (8/27/2008)
Who cares? Ugly little Troll of a car anyway!
Reply
David 8:48AM (8/27/2008)
Yes, there are still MG fans in the US, LOTS of them. I have had my 1972 MGB for the last 27 years. I would love to have had a new one to park next to it in the garage, but after BMW's abysmal attempt at ownership (they could have EASILY done to MG what they have done with Mini...) the unfortunate Phoenix 4 and now the Chinese, there is just no way I could stomach a new one. They made a wise choice.
Reply
james 9:16AM (8/27/2008)
"...but with the right product" is exactly right is marketing speak for our products are years away from passing any sort of European or American safety crash tests. Or put another way, our testing indicates that our products would have failed most if not all crash tests and resulted in embarrassing and horrifying videos of said tests being posted to YouTube.
Reply
Rich 2:49PM (8/27/2008)
Wrong. The MGTF was being sold in Europe before MG was given away.
I suspect the reason the TF isn't going to make it is because it's too old. Nanjing must be kicking themselves for not cloning the MX-5.