End of an Era: MG to Stop Production at Longbridge Factory
Car Production, Longbridge, MG, Vehicle ManufacturingMG Motor has announced that it will cease production at the iconic Longbridge factory with all of its vehicles being shipped to UK shores from China.
The closure will lead to a loss of 25 jobs on the production line. One of these workers will have the responsibility for putting the final touches on the last vehicle to pass through the production line.
In spite of the factory closure the SAIC Motor Technical Centre (SMTC) that houses 300+ engineers who are responsible for much of MG’s engineering and aesthetics will remain. Positions in marketing, sales and after-sales will also remain unaffected.
Longbridge has a long and storied history synonymous with motor vehicle production. It has produced the likes of the iconic 2 door Mini and the Austin Metro as well as numerous other models throughout its history. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Longbridge served as one of the most recognisable locations for battles between the Unions and Government where walkouts were commonplace.
Production first grinded to a halt in 2005 when the MG Rover consortium filed for bankruptcy just five short years after purchasing the MG and Rover emblems for a nominal £10 from BMW.
Chinese auto group SAIC acquired MG via its takeover of auto maker Nanjing. It waited until 2011 to kick-start production, albeit at a significantly scaled-down volume. With the majority of MG vehicle production undertaken in China, including the MG 3 supermini an estimate of only 3000 MG 6 models were planned to be produced at Longbridge each year. Little demand for the hatchback 6 led to MG failing to reach its small production target. In result, the company removed the MG 6 from sale which marked the end for the historic factory.
After 116 years vehicle production at Longbridge is coming to an end. One of the 25 people employed on the assembly line will have the ominous task of adding the finishing touches to the final vehicle that leaves the factory.
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