MG Rover - Revision history

Red marquis at 22:12, 18 February 2007

2007-02-18T22:12:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 18 February 2007
Line 49:		Line 49:
	Figures released by the company showed that the sale of Rover-branded cars fell in 2004 compared to 2003.		Figures released by the company showed that the sale of Rover-branded cars fell in 2004 compared to 2003.

	In April 2005 it was reported that the partnership deal with SAIC was in trouble because both SAIC and the British Government had discovered that MG Rover's finances were in a far more parlous condition than had previously been thought. On 7 April 2005 the company announced that it was suspending production because of component shortages. Later in the day, it was announced by Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, that the company was being placed in receivership. Her statement was based on a conversation with MG Rover chairman, [[John Towers]]. It was later denied by MG Rover Group, although the company admitted that it had engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm, to advise on its current financial situation. In the event, MG Rover placed itself in administration on [[8 April~~]] [[~~2005]], a different status than [[receivership]] under ~~[[United Kingdom\|~~British]] law.		In April 2005 it was reported that the partnership deal with SAIC was in trouble because both SAIC and the British Government had discovered that MG Rover's finances were in a far more parlous condition than had previously been thought. On 7 April 2005 the company announced that it was suspending production because of component shortages. Later in the day, it was announced by Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, that the company was being placed in receivership. Her statement was based on a conversation with MG Rover chairman, [[John Towers]]. It was later denied by MG Rover Group, although the company admitted that it had engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm, to advise on its current financial situation. In the event, MG Rover placed itself in administration on 8 April 2005, a different status than receivership under British law.

	On [[8 April~~]] [[~~2005]], British [[Prime Minister~~]] [[~~Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], visited the offices of the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] in [[Birmingham]] and stated that there might be some hope for the future of the company, although not the original deal agreed with [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation\|SAIC]].		On 8 April 2005, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, visited the offices of the Transport and General Workers' Union in Birmingham and stated that there might be some hope for the future of the company, although not the original deal agreed with [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation\|SAIC]].

	On [[10 April~~]] [[~~2005]], MG Rover announced that they had received a ~~[[pound sterling\|£]]6~~.5 million loan from the [[British Government]]. <ref>		On 10 April 2005, MG Rover announced that they had received a £6.5 million loan from the British Government. <ref>
	{{cite news		{{cite news
	\|title=MG Rover gets £6.5m loan lifeline		\|title=MG Rover gets £6.5m loan lifeline

Red marquis at 22:11, 18 February 2007

2007-02-18T22:11:31Z

202.65.191.138 at 21:56, 18 February 2007

2007-02-18T21:56:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:56, 18 February 2007
Line 9:		Line 9:

	===1986–2007 timeline===		===1986–2007 timeline===
	* 1987 [[Leyland Motors\|Leyland Trucks]] division merged with [[DAF Trucks\|DAF]] and then floated. (Note: After being declared bankrupt in 1993 the new [[DAF NV]] company split into three independent companies; the UK van operation became [[LDV Limited\|LDV]], the Dutch operation resumed trading as DAF Trucks and the UK truck operation resumed trading as [[Leyland Trucks]]. Both truck operations were later acquired by [[PACCAR]] of the USA.)		* 1987 [[Leyland Motors\|Leyland Trucks]] division merged with [[DAF Trucks\|DAF]] and then floated. (Note: After being declared bankrupt in 1993 the new [[DAF NV]] company split into three independent companies; the UK van operation became [[LDV Limited\|LDV]], the Dutch operation resumed trading as DAF Trucks and the UK truck operation resumed trading as [[Leyland Trucks]]. Both truck operations were later acquired by PACCAR of the USA.)
	* 1987 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by [[Volvo Buses]] in 1988		* 1987 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by [[Volvo Buses]] in 1988
	* 1987 Unipart spare parts division sold off via management buyout		* 1987 Unipart spare parts division sold off via management buyout
	* 1988 Rover Group privatised; sold to [[British Aerospace]]		* 1988 Rover Group privatised; sold to British Aerospace
	* 1995 Rover Group sold to [[BMW]]; 17-year collaboration with [[Honda]] ends in disgrace		* 1995 Rover Group sold to [[BMW]]; 17-year collaboration with [[Honda]] ends in disgrace
	* 2000 [[Land Rover]] sold by BMW to [[Ford Motor Company\|Ford]]		* 2000 [[Land Rover]] sold by BMW to [[Ford Motor Company\|Ford]]
Line 72:		Line 72:
	On Thursday, [[July 14]], it was reported that Magma Holdings, a financial group including former [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[General Motors Corporation\|General Motors]] executives, working in conjunction with SAIC, would be making an offer for both MG Rover and engine maker Rover Powertrain which, if successful, would see at least some production being restarted at Longbridge, and that talks with the other two interested parties – China's [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] and Project Kimber (a [[consortium]] of Birmingham businessmen led by [[David James (business)\|David James]]) – were still in progress.		On Thursday, [[July 14]], it was reported that Magma Holdings, a financial group including former [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[General Motors Corporation\|General Motors]] executives, working in conjunction with SAIC, would be making an offer for both MG Rover and engine maker Rover Powertrain which, if successful, would see at least some production being restarted at Longbridge, and that talks with the other two interested parties – China's [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] and Project Kimber (a [[consortium]] of Birmingham businessmen led by [[David James (business)\|David James]]) – were still in progress.

	On Monday, [[July 18]], Magma Holdings and SAIC formalized their bid with an offer of £60 million. However, that offer was not well-received and on Friday, [[July 22]], the Administrators announced that the entire group had been sold to the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] for around £53 million, with a deposit of around $5 million, indicating that their preliminary plans involved relocating the Powertrain engine plant to China and splitting car production into Rover lines in China and MG lines in the [[West Midlands (county)\|West Midlands]] (though not necessarily at Longbridge), where a ~~[[United Kingdom\|~~UK~~]] [[Research and development\|~~R&D]] and technical facility would also be developed. But on Saturday, [[August 27]], [[The Daily Telegraph]] reported that the balance of around £47 million, due on [[August 22]] had not been paid. Citing confidentiality, the Administrators declined to comment.		On Monday, [[July 18]], Magma Holdings and SAIC formalized their bid with an offer of £60 million. However, that offer was not well-received and on Friday, [[July 22]], the Administrators announced that the entire group had been sold to the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] for around £53 million, with a deposit of around $5 million, indicating that their preliminary plans involved relocating the Powertrain engine plant to China and splitting car production into Rover lines in China and MG lines in the [[West Midlands (county)\|West Midlands]] (though not necessarily at Longbridge), where a UK R&D and technical facility would also be developed. But on Saturday, August 27, [[The Daily Telegraph]] reported that the balance of around £47 million, due on August 22 had not been paid. Citing confidentiality, the Administrators declined to comment.

	Nanjing Automobile started shipping equipment from Longbridge to China on Thursday, [[September 15]] and, according to a report in [[The Times]] on Saturday, [[September 17]], were close to a deal with SAIC under which they would manufacture the Rover 25 and Powertrain engines while SAIC would produce a stretched Rover 75. [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] was reported to be in exclusive negotiations with GB Sports Cars, a venture by former Rover managers, to re-establish MG production at Longbridge.		Nanjing Automobile started shipping equipment from Longbridge to China on Thursday, September 15 and, according to a report in The Times on Saturday, September 17, were close to a deal with SAIC under which they would manufacture the Rover 25 and Powertrain engines while SAIC would produce a stretched Rover 75. [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] was reported to be in exclusive negotiations with GB Sports Cars, a venture by former Rover managers, to re-establish MG production at Longbridge.

	In late October, key ex-workers received letters from [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] offering 10 months' work dismantling plant at Longbridge for reassembly in China while talks with GB Sports Cars continued. However, after announcing that the UK government had not offered any substantial assistance in either grants or loans, Nanjing Automobile was also reported to have begun negotiations with at least two other potential partners, including "a wealthy San Francisco family", and, in early November, Nanjing committed to making every effort "to resume production [at Longbridge] at the beginning of 2007".		In late October, key ex-workers received letters from [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] offering 10 months' work dismantling plant at Longbridge for reassembly in China while talks with GB Sports Cars continued. However, after announcing that the UK government had not offered any substantial assistance in either grants or loans, Nanjing Automobile was also reported to have begun negotiations with at least two other potential partners, including "a wealthy San Francisco family", and, in early November, Nanjing committed to making every effort "to resume production [at Longbridge] at the beginning of 2007".
Line 83:		Line 83:
	Many car brands that were formerly the property of British Leyland passed on to MG Rover. The brands of [[Alvis Cars\|Alvis]] and [[Jaguar Cars\|Jaguar]] (including [[Daimler Motor Company\|Daimler]] and [[Lanchester Motor Company\|Lanchester]], as well as the American rights to [[Vanden Plas]]) were sold off by British Leyland before it became Rover Group, and [[Land Rover]] was sold to Ford in the BMW days. It was announced in September 2006 that the Rover brand would be sold by BMW to Ford for an undisclosed fee. <ref>{{cite news		Many car brands that were formerly the property of British Leyland passed on to MG Rover. The brands of [[Alvis Cars\|Alvis]] and [[Jaguar Cars\|Jaguar]] (including [[Daimler Motor Company\|Daimler]] and [[Lanchester Motor Company\|Lanchester]], as well as the American rights to [[Vanden Plas]]) were sold off by British Leyland before it became Rover Group, and [[Land Rover]] was sold to Ford in the BMW days. It was announced in September 2006 that the Rover brand would be sold by BMW to Ford for an undisclosed fee. <ref>{{cite news
	\|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford		\|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford
	\|date=[[2006-09-18]]		\|date=2006-09-18
	\|publisher=BBC		\|publisher=BBC
	\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5358590.stm		\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5358590.stm
Line 90:		Line 90:

	Owned by MG Rover/Nanjing:		Owned by MG Rover/Nanjing:
	* 1895 [[Wolseley ~~Motor Company~~\|Wolseley]]		* 1895 [[Wolseley\|Wolseley]]
	* 1905 [[Austin Motor Company\|Austin]]		* 1905 [[Austin Motor Company\|Austin]]
	* 1912 [[Morris Motor Company\|Morris]]		* 1912 [[Morris Motor Company\|Morris]]
	* 1913 [[Vanden Plas]] as a coachbuilder and as a car brand (outside the US & Canada)		* 1913 [[Vanden Plas]] as a coachbuilder and as a car brand (outside the US & Canada)
	* 1923 [[MG ~~(car)~~\|MG]] created by Morris		* 1923 [[MG\|MG]] created by Morris
	* 1930 American Austin created by [[Austin Motor Company\|Austin]] for US market		* 1930 American Austin created by [[Austin Motor Company\|Austin]] for US market
	* 1947 [[Vanden Plas Princess\|Princess]] created by [[Vanden Plas]] as a car brand		* 1947 [[Vanden Plas Princess\|Princess]] created by [[Vanden Plas]] as a car brand
	* 1987 [[Sterling ~~(car)~~\|Sterling]] created as a separate brand in the US by the Rover Group		* 1987 [[Sterling\|Sterling]] created as a separate brand in the US by the Rover Group

	Owned by BMW:		Owned by BMW:
	* 1898 [[Riley ~~(automobile)~~\|Riley]]		* 1898 [[Riley\|Riley]]
	* 1903 [[Standard Motor Company\|Standard]] as a part of [[Triumph Motor Company]]		* 1903 [[Standard Motor Company\|Standard]] as a part of [[Triumph Motor Company]]
	* 1919 [[Dawson Car Company\|Dawson]] the genesis brand of [[Triumph Motor Company]]		* 1919 [[Dawson Car Company\|Dawson]] the genesis brand of [[Triumph Motor Company]]
	* 1923 [[Triumph Motor Company\|Triumph]] as a car brand – the motorcycle brand owned is by [[Triumph Motorcycles]]		* 1923 [[Triumph Motor Company\|Triumph]] as a car brand – the motorcycle brand owned is by Triumph Motorcycles
	* 1936 Autovia created by [[Riley ~~(automobile)~~\|Riley]] as a luxury car brand		* 1936 Autovia created by [[Riley\|Riley]] as a luxury car brand
	* 1959 [[Mini]] originally used as a sub-brand on the Morris versions of the car. Made a brand in its own right by British Leyland in 1969		* 1959 [[Mini]] originally used as a sub-brand on the Morris versions of the car. Made a brand in its own right by British Leyland in 1969

Line 110:		Line 110:
	* 1892 [[Daimler Motor Company\|Daimler]]		* 1892 [[Daimler Motor Company\|Daimler]]
	* 1898 [[Lanchester Motor Company\|Lanchester]]		* 1898 [[Lanchester Motor Company\|Lanchester]]
	* 1904 [[Rover ~~(car)~~\|Rover]] <ref>{{cite news		* 1904 [[Rover\|Rover]] <ref>{{cite news
	\|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford		\|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford
	\|date=[[2006-09-18]]		\|date=[[2006-09-18]]

202.65.191.138 at 21:54, 18 February 2007

2007-02-18T21:54:21Z

Red marquis at 01:33, 16 January 2007

2007-01-16T01:33:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:33, 16 January 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''MG Rover''' was the last British-owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed by the de-merger of [[MG\|MG]] and [[Rover\|Rover]] from [[BMW]] in 2000; these had previously been parts of [[British Leyland]]. MG Rover is now part of the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]].		{{List of MG Rover Models}}'''MG Rover''' was the last British-owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed by the de-merger of [[MG\|MG]] and [[Rover\|Rover]] from [[BMW]] in 2000; these had previously been parts of [[British Leyland]]. MG Rover is now part of the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]].

	==Ancestry of MG Rover==		==Ancestry of MG Rover==

Red marquis at 00:49, 5 January 2007

2007-01-05T00:49:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:49, 5 January 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''MG Rover''' was the last British-owned mass-production car manufacturer in the [[British motor industry]]. The company was formed by the de-merger of [[MG\|MG]] and [[Rover\|Rover]] from [[BMW]] in 2000; these had previously been parts of [[British Leyland]]. MG Rover is now part of the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]].		'''MG Rover''' was the last British-owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed by the de-merger of [[MG\|MG]] and [[Rover\|Rover]] from [[BMW]] in 2000; these had previously been parts of [[British Leyland]]. MG Rover is now part of the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]].

	==Ancestry of MG Rover==		==Ancestry of MG Rover==

Red marquis: /* Notes */

2007-01-05T00:47:36Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:47, 5 January 2007
Line 133:		Line 133:

	==Notes==		==Notes==
	~~<references/>~~

	~~[[Category:Companies based in Birmingham, England]]~~

	[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]		[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
	[[Category:~~Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange~~]]		[[Category:Makes]]

Red marquis at 00:31, 5 January 2007

2007-01-05T00:31:54Z

New page

'''MG Rover''' was the last British-owned mass-production car manufacturer in the [[British motor industry]]. The company was formed by the de-merger of [[MG|MG]] and [[Rover|Rover]] from [[BMW]] in 2000; these had previously been parts of [[British Leyland]]. MG Rover is now part of the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]].

==Ancestry of MG Rover==
{{further|[[Rover]]}}
===British Leyland===
MG Rover are the heirs of the mass-produced car businesses of the [[British Leyland Motor Corporation]] (BLMC), which was formed in 1968 as the end of a chain of mergers between many British car firms including Rover and the owners of MG, the [[Nuffield Organisation]]. In 1975 BLMC was [[nationalised]], and became [[British Leyland]] (BL), due chiefly to financial difficulties.

In 1977 BL's new chief executive [[Sir Michael Edwardes]] saw that the only way to make the company competitive again was to collaborate with the Japanese manufacturers. In 1979, he began negotiations with [[Honda]] to co-develop new models and to share manufacturing facilities. The first product of this relationship was the [[Triumph Acclaim]], and led to a long succession of Honda-Rover models. Edwardes also implemented a ruthless programme of cutbacks and factory closures which also saw the death of many of famous British marques. To reflect the resulting two-brand strategy, BL's volume car subsidiary was named as the '''[[Austin Rover Group]]''' in 1981. In 1984 BL sold [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar Cars]] into private ownership. The depleted BL was itself renamed in 1986 to '''[[Rover Group]] plc''' prior to its 1988 sell-off to [[British Aerospace]]. In 1987 the truck and bus businesses were sold off. The remaining volume car business was sold to [[BMW]] in 1995.

===1986–2007 timeline===
* 1987 [[Leyland Motors|Leyland Trucks]] division merged with [[DAF Trucks|DAF]] and then floated. (Note: After being declared bankrupt in 1993 the new [[DAF NV]] company split into three independent companies; the UK van operation became [[LDV Limited|LDV]], the Dutch operation resumed trading as DAF Trucks and the UK truck operation resumed trading as [[Leyland Trucks]]. Both truck operations were later acquired by [[PACCAR]] of the USA.)
* 1987 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by [[Volvo Buses]] in 1988
* 1987 [[Unipart]] spare parts division sold off via management buyout
* 1988 Rover Group privatised; sold to [[British Aerospace]]
* 1995 Rover Group sold to [[BMW]]; 17-year collaboration with [[Honda]] ends in disgrace
* 2000 [[Land Rover]] sold by BMW to [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
* 2000 The new [[BMW MINI|MINI]] launched by BMW, produced at the Cowley assembly plant.
* 2000 Remainder of company sold to the [[Phoenix Consortium]] for a nominal £10 and renamed '''MG Rover Group'''
* 2001 MG Rover bought [[Qvale]] of [[Italy]] (Only bought the factory and the rights of platform of the Mangusta car. MG Rover did not acquire the rights of the Qvale name)
* 2002 MG Rover agrees to collaborate with [[Tata Group|Tata]] of [[India]]
* 2003 MG Rover launches the new MG SV and SV-R, prices start at around £65,000
* 2003 MG Rover launches the new Rover CityRover - a small 5 door hatchback city car. Sales performed poorly from the start.
* 2004 MG Rover is in talks with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC)
* 2005 Collaborative deal with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) collapses, forcing the company into administration and insolvency.
* 2005 [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] acquires the entire assets of MG Rover.
* 2005/06 [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] announces to build cars at Longbridge after signing a deal to lease the site for 33 years.
* 2006 The MINI MkII is launched
* 2006 SAIC sets up a new company called [[Roewe]] and now builds a car based on the Rover 75 platform which they had bought.
* 2007? [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] will start to build the MG TF at Longbridge?

===Sale from BMW to Phoenix Consortium===
When BMW sold off its interests, MG Rover was bought for a nominal £10 in May 2000 by a specially-assembled group of businessmen known as the [[Phoenix Consortium]]. The consortium was headed by ex-Rover Chief Executive [[John Towers]]. The company then ceased trading 8 April 2005.

The year before BMW sold MG Rover, it had made losses of an estimated £800million. The four business men who took control of the newly-formed MG Rover Group (''previously named Rover Car Operations'') had have reported to receive around £430million in a dowry from BMW which included unsold stock.

BMW then retained the MINI marque, to build for itself. The car has since sold over 200,000 in the UK in the past 6 years. Land Rover was sold to Ford for an estimated sum of £1.8billion which included various other items as well.

===Aborted deal with SAIC of China===
In June, 2004, it was learned that [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation]] had signed a Joint Venture partnership to develop new models and technologies with MG Rover. This led to much speculation among the British media suggesting the Chinese company were poised to launch a takeover. Later that year, in November, news broke of an agreement between the two companies to create a joint venture company to produce up to a million cars a year, with the production shared between MG Rover's Longbridge site and locations in China. SAIC were to have a 70% stake in this company in return for a £1 billion investment, with MG Rover owning the remaining 30%. However, this agreement had to be ratified by the Chinese government, specifically its National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The Commission was of the mind that if BMW could not make a success of Rover, then it would be hard for SAIC to do so.

On [[December 8]], [[2004]], [[Tata]] of [[India]], which had cooperated over the export of the [[Tata Indica]] as the [[CityRover]], threatened ceasing its agreement with MG Rover if the SAIC tie-up went ahead, according to the Indian press. Tata claimed the report was inaccurate two days later.

SAIC did purchase the technical rights to manufacture Rover's 25 and 75 models, and for the [[Powertrain Ltd]] business, for £67 million last year. It did not acquire the Rover name, which was still owned by BMW at the time (See 'Brands' below).

In January 2005, it was revealed that British [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] had intervened to support the alliance between MG Rover and SAIC. MG Rover could not give a date on which the agreement would be finalized.

Figures released by the company showed that the sale of Rover-branded cars fell in 2004 compared to 2003.

In April 2005 it was reported that the partnership deal with SAIC was in trouble because both SAIC and the British Government had discovered that MG Rover's finances were in a far more parlous condition than had previously been thought. On [[7 April]] [[2005]] the company announced that it was suspending production because of component shortages. Later in the day, it was announced by [[Patricia Hewitt]], the [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]], that the company was being placed in [[receivership]]. Her statement was based on a conversation with MG Rover chairman, [[John Towers]]. It was later denied by MG Rover Group, although the company admitted that it had engaged [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]], the [[accountancy]] firm, to advise on its current financial situation. In the event, MG Rover placed itself in [[administration]] on [[8 April]] [[2005]], a different status than [[receivership]] under [[United Kingdom|British]] law.

On [[8 April]] [[2005]], British [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], visited the offices of the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] in [[Birmingham]] and stated that there might be some hope for the future of the company, although not the original deal agreed with [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation|SAIC]].

On [[10 April]] [[2005]], MG Rover announced that they had received a [[pound sterling|£]]6.5 million loan from the [[British Government]]. <ref>
{{cite news
|title=MG Rover gets £6.5m loan lifeline
|date=[[2005-04-10]]
|publisher=BBC
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4429663.stm
}}</ref> This would cover worker wages for one week while buy-out proposals were made to SAIC. The same week, SAIC denied it had ever made an offer to buy MG Rover and threatened to sue anyone who attempted to make the 25 and 75 models.
{{wikinews|Last British volume car manufacturer closes down}}
===Acquisition by Nanjing Automobile Group===
On [[15 April]] [[2005]], it was announced that SAIC had once again rejected pleas to buy out the company. With no other rescue deal in the pipeline, the administrators were not in a position to seek further funding from the government and announced that redundancy notices to Longbridge staff would be issued.

By the end of April 2005, Sir [[Richard Branson]] had reportedly expressed an interest in buying the remaining assets of the company for the purpose of reviving the marque in order to enter the hybrid automobile market, and several other parties were also rumoured as wishing to buy the remnants, including two Russian businessmen (one of whom denied the reports) as well as the Iranian state-owned car manufacturer, [[SAIPA]].

SAIC had claimed that it had already acquired [[Intellectual Property]] Rights in some Rover product for £67 million in the autumn of 2004, including the [[Rover 25]], the [[Rover 75]] and the Rover Powertrain [[K-series]] engine, but the Administrators advised that there was still interest in saving some other parts of the company, including MG, and Friday, [[May 13]] [[2005]] was set as the deadline for bids from potential investors.

On Friday, [[May 20]], the Administrators announced that, after considering numerous proposals, they had entered talks with two unnamed "overseas companies" with a view to restarting one or more of the Longbridge production lines. Nevertheless, the following week they informed [[creditor]]s that they by then expected the company to proceed instead to a creditors' voluntary [[liquidation]], setting the date for a preliminary Creditors' Meeting to be held in [[Birmingham]] on Friday, [[June 10]] [[2005]]. At that meeting, creditors learned that so little of value was left in the company that there would probably be negligible or even no repayment of its outstanding debt and that, although three bidders were then still negotiating to acquire the company intact as a going concern, the Administrators had instructed their [[Agency (law)|agents]] to prepare for the piecemeal sale of the very few remaining [[asset]]s in the event that satisfactory negotiations for the sale of the entire business were not concluded.

On Thursday, [[July 14]], it was reported that Magma Holdings, a financial group including former [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] executives, working in conjunction with SAIC, would be making an offer for both MG Rover and engine maker Rover Powertrain which, if successful, would see at least some production being restarted at Longbridge, and that talks with the other two interested parties – China's [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] and Project Kimber (a [[consortium]] of Birmingham businessmen led by [[David James (business)|David James]]) – were still in progress.

On Monday, [[July 18]], Magma Holdings and SAIC formalized their bid with an offer of £60 million. However, that offer was not well-received and on Friday, [[July 22]], the Administrators announced that the entire group had been sold to the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] for around £53 million, with a deposit of around $5 million, indicating that their preliminary plans involved relocating the Powertrain engine plant to China and splitting car production into Rover lines in China and MG lines in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] (though not necessarily at Longbridge), where a [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Research and development|R&D]] and technical facility would also be developed. But on Saturday, [[August 27]], [[The Daily Telegraph]] reported that the balance of around £47 million, due on [[August 22]] had not been paid. Citing confidentiality, the Administrators declined to comment.

Nanjing Automobile started shipping equipment from Longbridge to China on Thursday, [[September 15]] and, according to a report in [[The Times]] on Saturday, [[September 17]], were close to a deal with SAIC under which they would manufacture the Rover 25 and Powertrain engines while SAIC would produce a stretched Rover 75. [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] was reported to be in exclusive negotiations with GB Sports Cars, a venture by former Rover managers, to re-establish MG production at Longbridge.

In late October, key ex-workers received letters from [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] offering 10 months' work dismantling plant at Longbridge for reassembly in China while talks with GB Sports Cars continued. However, after announcing that the UK government had not offered any substantial assistance in either grants or loans, Nanjing Automobile was also reported to have begun negotiations with at least two other potential partners, including "a wealthy San Francisco family", and, in early November, Nanjing committed to making every effort "to resume production [at Longbridge] at the beginning of 2007".

In the autumn of 2006, Nanjing announced plans to build three new MG model ranges which are expected to go on sale by the end of 2008. It was also revealed that the [[Austin]] marque may be revived on at least some of the MG range, some 20 years after it was discontinued.

===Brands===
Many car brands that were formerly the property of British Leyland passed on to MG Rover. The brands of [[Alvis Cars|Alvis]] and [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] (including [[Daimler Motor Company|Daimler]] and [[Lanchester Motor Company|Lanchester]], as well as the American rights to [[Vanden Plas]]) were sold off by British Leyland before it became Rover Group, and [[Land Rover]] was sold to Ford in the BMW days. It was announced in September 2006 that the Rover brand would be sold by BMW to Ford for an undisclosed fee. <ref>{{cite news
|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford
|date=[[2006-09-18]]
|publisher=BBC
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5358590.stm
}}
</ref> The current status of the former British Leyland brands is as follows:

Owned by MG Rover/Nanjing:
* 1895 [[Wolseley Motor Company|Wolseley]]
* 1905 [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]]
* 1912 [[Morris Motor Company|Morris]]
* 1913 [[Vanden Plas]] as a coachbuilder and as a car brand (outside the US & Canada)
* 1923 [[MG (car)|MG]] created by Morris
* 1930 American Austin created by [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] for US market
* 1947 [[Vanden Plas Princess|Princess]] created by [[Vanden Plas]] as a car brand
* 1987 [[Sterling (car)|Sterling]] created as a separate brand in the US by the Rover Group

Owned by BMW:
* 1898 [[Riley (automobile)|Riley]]
* 1903 [[Standard Motor Company|Standard]] as a part of [[Triumph Motor Company]]
* 1919 [[Dawson Car Company|Dawson]] the genesis brand of [[Triumph Motor Company]]
* 1923 [[Triumph Motor Company|Triumph]] as a car brand – the motorcycle brand owned is by [[Triumph Motorcycles]]
* 1936 Autovia created by [[Riley (automobile)|Riley]] as a luxury car brand
* 1959 [[Mini]] originally used as a sub-brand on the Morris versions of the car. Made a brand in its own right by British Leyland in 1969

Owned by Ford:
* 1892 [[Daimler Motor Company|Daimler]]
* 1898 [[Lanchester Motor Company|Lanchester]]
* 1904 [[Rover (car)|Rover]] <ref>{{cite news
|title=Rover brand name passes to Ford
|date=[[2006-09-18]]
|publisher=BBC
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5358590.stm
}}</ref>
* 1947 [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]]
* 1947 [[Land Rover]] (Created by Rover)
* 1959 [[Vanden Plas]] a coachbuilder (US & Canada Rights Only)

Owned by [[BAE Systems]]:
* 1921 [[Alvis Cars|Alvis]]

{{British Leyland}}

==External links==
* [http://austin-rover.co.uk/wsindexf.htm Austin-Rover.co.uk history of BMC/BL and Rover from 1952-2005]
* [http://www.mg-rover.com/ Rover site]
* [http://www.chinacarforums.com/ Nanjing-MG Rover Talk site]
* [http://www.clubmg-rover.com/ Spanish fan site of Mg-Rover,with a very interesting forum]
* [http://www.rover200.org.uk/ Rover 200/400 Mk2 Owners Club - A Complete Resource for the Rover 200/400]

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Companies based in Birmingham, England]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 18 February 2007
Line 56:		Line 56:
	{{cite news		{{cite news
	\|title=MG Rover gets £6.5m loan lifeline		\|title=MG Rover gets £6.5m loan lifeline
	\|date=[[2005-04-10]]		\|date=2005-04-10
	\|publisher=BBC		\|publisher=BBC
	\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4429663.stm		\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4429663.stm
Line 62:		Line 62:
	{{wikinews\|Last British volume car manufacturer closes down}}		{{wikinews\|Last British volume car manufacturer closes down}}
	===Acquisition by Nanjing Automobile Group===		===Acquisition by Nanjing Automobile Group===
	On [[15 April~~]] [[~~2005]], it was announced that SAIC had once again rejected pleas to buy out the company. With no other rescue deal in the pipeline, the administrators were not in a position to seek further funding from the government and announced that redundancy notices to Longbridge staff would be issued.		On 15 April 2005, it was announced that SAIC had once again rejected pleas to buy out the company. With no other rescue deal in the pipeline, the administrators were not in a position to seek further funding from the government and announced that redundancy notices to Longbridge staff would be issued.

	By the end of April 2005, Sir [[Richard Branson]] had reportedly expressed an interest in buying the remaining assets of the company for the purpose of reviving the marque in order to enter the hybrid automobile market, and several other parties were also rumoured as wishing to buy the remnants, including two Russian businessmen (one of whom denied the reports) as well as the Iranian state-owned car manufacturer, [[SAIPA]].		By the end of April 2005, Sir Richard Branson had reportedly expressed an interest in buying the remaining assets of the company for the purpose of reviving the marque in order to enter the hybrid automobile market, and several other parties were also rumoured as wishing to buy the remnants, including two Russian businessmen (one of whom denied the reports) as well as the Iranian state-owned car manufacturer, [[SAIPA]].

	SAIC had claimed that it had already acquired [[Intellectual Property]] Rights in some Rover product for £67 million in the autumn of 2004, including the [[Rover 25]], the [[Rover 75]] and the Rover Powertrain [[K-series]] engine, but the Administrators advised that there was still interest in saving some other parts of the company, including MG, and Friday, [[May 13~~]] [[~~2005]] was set as the deadline for bids from potential investors.		SAIC had claimed that it had already acquired Intellectual Property Rights in some Rover product for £67 million in the autumn of 2004, including the [[Rover 25]], the [[Rover 75]] and the Rover Powertrain [[K-series]] engine, but the Administrators advised that there was still interest in saving some other parts of the company, including MG, and Friday, May 13 2005 was set as the deadline for bids from potential investors.

	On Friday, [[May 20]], the Administrators announced that, after considering numerous proposals, they had entered talks with two unnamed "overseas companies" with a view to restarting one or more of the Longbridge production lines. Nevertheless, the following week they informed ~~[[creditor]]s~~ that they by then expected the company to proceed instead to a creditors' voluntary [[liquidation]], setting the date for a preliminary Creditors' Meeting to be held in [[Birmingham]] on Friday, [[June 10~~]] [[~~2005]]. At that meeting, creditors learned that so little of value was left in the company that there would probably be negligible or even no repayment of its outstanding debt and that, although three bidders were then still negotiating to acquire the company intact as a going concern, the Administrators had instructed their ~~[[Agency (law)\|~~agents]] to prepare for the piecemeal sale of the very few remaining ~~[[asset]]s~~ in the event that satisfactory negotiations for the sale of the entire business were not concluded.		On Friday, May 20, the Administrators announced that, after considering numerous proposals, they had entered talks with two unnamed "overseas companies" with a view to restarting one or more of the Longbridge production lines. Nevertheless, the following week they informed creditors that they by then expected the company to proceed instead to a creditors' voluntary liquidation, setting the date for a preliminary Creditors' Meeting to be held in Birmingham on Friday, June 10 2005. At that meeting, creditors learned that so little of value was left in the company that there would probably be negligible or even no repayment of its outstanding debt and that, although three bidders were then still negotiating to acquire the company intact as a going concern, the Administrators had instructed their agents to prepare for the piecemeal sale of the very few remaining assets in the event that satisfactory negotiations for the sale of the entire business were not concluded.

	On Thursday, [[July 14]], it was reported that Magma Holdings, a financial group including former [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[General Motors Corporation\|General Motors]] executives, working in conjunction with SAIC, would be making an offer for both MG Rover and engine maker Rover Powertrain which, if successful, would see at least some production being restarted at Longbridge, and that talks with the other two interested parties – China's [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] and Project Kimber (a [[consortium]] of Birmingham businessmen led by ~~[[David James (business)\|~~David James]]) – were still in progress.		On Thursday, July 14, it was reported that Magma Holdings, a financial group including former [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[General Motors Corporation\|General Motors]] executives, working in conjunction with SAIC, would be making an offer for both MG Rover and engine maker Rover Powertrain which, if successful, would see at least some production being restarted at Longbridge, and that talks with the other two interested parties – China's [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] and Project Kimber (a consortium of Birmingham businessmen led by David James) – were still in progress.

	On Monday, [[July 18]], Magma Holdings and SAIC formalized their bid with an offer of £60 million. However, that offer was not well-received and on Friday, [[July 22]], the Administrators announced that the entire group had been sold to the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] for around £53 million, with a deposit of around $5 million, indicating that their preliminary plans involved relocating the Powertrain engine plant to China and splitting car production into Rover lines in China and MG lines in the [[West Midlands ~~(county)\|West Midlands]]~~ (though not necessarily at Longbridge), where a UK R&D and technical facility would also be developed. But on Saturday, August 27, [[The Daily Telegraph]] reported that the balance of around £47 million, due on August 22 had not been paid. Citing confidentiality, the Administrators declined to comment.		On Monday, July 18, Magma Holdings and SAIC formalized their bid with an offer of £60 million. However, that offer was not well-received and on Friday, July 22, the Administrators announced that the entire group had been sold to the [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] for around £53 million, with a deposit of around $5 million, indicating that their preliminary plans involved relocating the Powertrain engine plant to China and splitting car production into Rover lines in China and MG lines in the West Midlands (though not necessarily at Longbridge), where a UK R&D and technical facility would also be developed. But on Saturday, August 27, The Daily Telegraph reported that the balance of around £47 million, due on August 22 had not been paid. Citing confidentiality, the Administrators declined to comment.

	Nanjing Automobile started shipping equipment from Longbridge to China on Thursday, September 15 and, according to a report in The Times on Saturday, September 17, were close to a deal with SAIC under which they would manufacture the Rover 25 and Powertrain engines while SAIC would produce a stretched Rover 75. [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] was reported to be in exclusive negotiations with GB Sports Cars, a venture by former Rover managers, to re-establish MG production at Longbridge.		Nanjing Automobile started shipping equipment from Longbridge to China on Thursday, September 15 and, according to a report in The Times on Saturday, September 17, were close to a deal with SAIC under which they would manufacture the Rover 25 and Powertrain engines while SAIC would produce a stretched Rover 75. [[Nanjing Automobile Group]] was reported to be in exclusive negotiations with GB Sports Cars, a venture by former Rover managers, to re-establish MG production at Longbridge.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:54, 18 February 2007
Line 4:		Line 4:
	{{further\|[[Rover]]}}		{{further\|[[Rover]]}}
	===British Leyland===		===British Leyland===
	MG Rover are the heirs of the mass-produced car businesses of the [[British Leyland Motor Corporation]] (BLMC), which was formed in 1968 as the end of a chain of mergers between many British car firms including Rover and the owners of MG, the [[Nuffield Organisation]]. In 1975 BLMC was [[nationalised]], and became [[British Leyland]] (BL), due chiefly to financial difficulties.		MG Rover are the heirs of the mass-produced car businesses of the [[British Leyland Motor Corporation]] (BLMC), which was formed in 1968 as the end of a chain of mergers between many British car firms including Rover and the owners of MG, the [[Nuffield Organisation]]. In 1975 BLMC was nationalised, and became [[British Leyland]] (BL), due chiefly to financial difficulties.

	In 1977 BL's new chief executive [[Sir Michael Edwardes]] saw that the only way to make the company competitive again was to collaborate with the Japanese manufacturers. In 1979, he began negotiations with [[Honda]] to co-develop new models and to share manufacturing facilities. The first product of this relationship was the [[Triumph Acclaim]], and led to a long succession of Honda-Rover models. Edwardes also implemented a ruthless programme of cutbacks and factory closures which also saw the death of many of famous British marques. To reflect the resulting two-brand strategy, BL's volume car subsidiary was named as the '''[[Austin Rover Group]]''' in 1981. In 1984 BL sold [[Jaguar ~~(car)~~\|Jaguar Cars]] into private ownership. The depleted BL was itself renamed in 1986 to '''[[Rover Group]] plc''' prior to its 1988 sell-off to [[British Aerospace]]. In 1987 the truck and bus businesses were sold off. The remaining volume car business was sold to [[BMW]] in 1995.		In 1977 BL's new chief executive [[Sir Michael Edwardes]] saw that the only way to make the company competitive again was to collaborate with the Japanese manufacturers. In 1979, he began negotiations with [[Honda]] to co-develop new models and to share manufacturing facilities. The first product of this relationship was the [[Triumph Acclaim]], and led to a long succession of Honda-Rover models. Edwardes also implemented a ruthless programme of cutbacks and factory closures which also saw the death of many of famous British marques. To reflect the resulting two-brand strategy, BL's volume car subsidiary was named as the '''[[Austin Rover Group]]''' in 1981. In 1984 BL sold [[Jaguar\|Jaguar Cars]] into private ownership. The depleted BL was itself renamed in 1986 to '''[[Rover Group]] plc''' prior to its 1988 sell-off to [[British Aerospace]]. In 1987 the truck and bus businesses were sold off. The remaining volume car business was sold to [[BMW]] in 1995.

	===1986–2007 timeline===		===1986–2007 timeline===
	* 1987 [[Leyland Motors\|Leyland Trucks]] division merged with [[DAF Trucks\|DAF]] and then floated. (Note: After being declared bankrupt in 1993 the new [[DAF NV]] company split into three independent companies; the UK van operation became [[LDV Limited\|LDV]], the Dutch operation resumed trading as DAF Trucks and the UK truck operation resumed trading as [[Leyland Trucks]]. Both truck operations were later acquired by [[PACCAR]] of the USA.)		* 1987 [[Leyland Motors\|Leyland Trucks]] division merged with [[DAF Trucks\|DAF]] and then floated. (Note: After being declared bankrupt in 1993 the new [[DAF NV]] company split into three independent companies; the UK van operation became [[LDV Limited\|LDV]], the Dutch operation resumed trading as DAF Trucks and the UK truck operation resumed trading as [[Leyland Trucks]]. Both truck operations were later acquired by [[PACCAR]] of the USA.)
	* 1987 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by [[Volvo Buses]] in 1988		* 1987 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by [[Volvo Buses]] in 1988
	* 1987 [[Unipart]] spare parts division sold off via management buyout		* 1987 Unipart spare parts division sold off via management buyout
	* 1988 Rover Group privatised; sold to [[British Aerospace]]		* 1988 Rover Group privatised; sold to [[British Aerospace]]
	* 1995 Rover Group sold to [[BMW]]; 17-year collaboration with [[Honda]] ends in disgrace		* 1995 Rover Group sold to [[BMW]]; 17-year collaboration with [[Honda]] ends in disgrace
	* 2000 [[Land Rover]] sold by BMW to [[Ford Motor Company\|Ford]]		* 2000 [[Land Rover]] sold by BMW to [[Ford Motor Company\|Ford]]
	* 2000 The new [[BMW MINI\|MINI]] launched by BMW, produced at the Cowley assembly plant.		* 2000 The new [[BMW MINI\|MINI]] launched by BMW, produced at the Cowley assembly plant.
	* 2000 Remainder of company sold to the [[Phoenix Consortium]] for a nominal £10 and renamed '''MG Rover Group'''		* 2000 Remainder of company sold to the Phoenix Consortium for a nominal £10 and renamed '''MG Rover Group'''
	* 2001 MG Rover bought [[Qvale]] of [[Italy]] (Only bought the factory and the rights of platform of the Mangusta car. MG Rover did not acquire the rights of the Qvale name)		* 2001 MG Rover bought [[Qvale]] of Italy (Only bought the factory and the rights of platform of the Mangusta car. MG Rover did not acquire the rights of the Qvale name)
	* 2002 MG Rover agrees to collaborate with [[Tata Group\|Tata]] of [[India]]		* 2002 MG Rover agrees to collaborate with [[Tata Group\|Tata]] of India
	* 2003 MG Rover launches the new MG SV and SV-R, prices start at around £65,000		* 2003 MG Rover launches the new MG SV and SV-R, prices start at around £65,000
	* 2003 MG Rover launches the new Rover CityRover - a small 5 door hatchback city car. Sales performed poorly from the start.		* 2003 MG Rover launches the new Rover CityRover - a small 5 door hatchback city car. Sales performed poorly from the start.
Line 30:		Line 30:

	===Sale from BMW to Phoenix Consortium===		===Sale from BMW to Phoenix Consortium===
	When BMW sold off its interests, MG Rover was bought for a nominal £10 in May 2000 by a specially-assembled group of businessmen known as the [[Phoenix Consortium]]. The consortium was headed by ex-Rover Chief Executive [[John Towers]]. The company then ceased trading 8 April 2005.		When BMW sold off its interests, MG Rover was bought for a nominal £10 in May 2000 by a specially-assembled group of businessmen known as the Phoenix Consortium. The consortium was headed by ex-Rover Chief Executive John Towers. The company then ceased trading 8 April 2005.

	The year before BMW sold MG Rover, it had made losses of an estimated £800million. The four business men who took control of the newly-formed MG Rover Group (''previously named Rover Car Operations'') had have reported to receive around £430million in a dowry from BMW which included unsold stock.		The year before BMW sold MG Rover, it had made losses of an estimated £800million. The four business men who took control of the newly-formed MG Rover Group (''previously named Rover Car Operations'') had have reported to receive around £430million in a dowry from BMW which included unsold stock.
Line 41:		Line 41:
	The Commission was of the mind that if BMW could not make a success of Rover, then it would be hard for SAIC to do so.		The Commission was of the mind that if BMW could not make a success of Rover, then it would be hard for SAIC to do so.

	On [[December 8]], [[2004]], [[Tata]] of [[India]], which had cooperated over the export of the [[Tata Indica]] as the [[CityRover]], threatened ceasing its agreement with MG Rover if the SAIC tie-up went ahead, according to the Indian press. Tata claimed the report was inaccurate two days later.		On December 8, 2004, Tata of India, which had cooperated over the export of the [[Tata Indica]] as the [[CityRover]], threatened ceasing its agreement with MG Rover if the SAIC tie-up went ahead, according to the Indian press. Tata claimed the report was inaccurate two days later.

	SAIC did purchase the technical rights to manufacture Rover's 25 and 75 models, and for the [[Powertrain Ltd]] business, for £67 million last year. It did not acquire the Rover name, which was still owned by BMW at the time (See 'Brands' below).		SAIC did purchase the technical rights to manufacture Rover's 25 and 75 models, and for the [[Powertrain Ltd]] business, for £67 million last year. It did not acquire the Rover name, which was still owned by BMW at the time (See 'Brands' below).

	In January 2005, it was revealed that British [[Prime Minister~~]] [[~~Tony Blair]] had intervened to support the alliance between MG Rover and SAIC. MG Rover could not give a date on which the agreement would be finalized.		In January 2005, it was revealed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair had intervened to support the alliance between MG Rover and SAIC. MG Rover could not give a date on which the agreement would be finalized.

	Figures released by the company showed that the sale of Rover-branded cars fell in 2004 compared to 2003.		Figures released by the company showed that the sale of Rover-branded cars fell in 2004 compared to 2003.

	In April 2005 it was reported that the partnership deal with SAIC was in trouble because both SAIC and the British Government had discovered that MG Rover's finances were in a far more parlous condition than had previously been thought. On [[7 April~~]] [[~~2005]] the company announced that it was suspending production because of component shortages. Later in the day, it was announced by [[Patricia Hewitt]], the [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]], that the company was being placed in [[receivership]]. Her statement was based on a conversation with MG Rover chairman, [[John Towers]]. It was later denied by MG Rover Group, although the company admitted that it had engaged [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]], the [[accountancy]] firm, to advise on its current financial situation. In the event, MG Rover placed itself in [[administration]] on [[8 April]] [[2005]], a different status than [[receivership]] under [[United Kingdom\|British]] law.		In April 2005 it was reported that the partnership deal with SAIC was in trouble because both SAIC and the British Government had discovered that MG Rover's finances were in a far more parlous condition than had previously been thought. On 7 April 2005 the company announced that it was suspending production because of component shortages. Later in the day, it was announced by Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, that the company was being placed in receivership. Her statement was based on a conversation with MG Rover chairman, [[John Towers]]. It was later denied by MG Rover Group, although the company admitted that it had engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm, to advise on its current financial situation. In the event, MG Rover placed itself in administration on [[8 April]] [[2005]], a different status than [[receivership]] under [[United Kingdom\|British]] law.

	On [[8 April]] [[2005]], British [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], visited the offices of the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] in [[Birmingham]] and stated that there might be some hope for the future of the company, although not the original deal agreed with [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation\|SAIC]].		On [[8 April]] [[2005]], British [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], visited the offices of the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] in [[Birmingham]] and stated that there might be some hope for the future of the company, although not the original deal agreed with [[Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation\|SAIC]].