Chinese plant rolls out first MG

Nanjing Automobile, which bought the MG brand in July 2005, has rolled out the first Chinese-built MG sports cars from its production line in the eastern city of Nanjing.

These are the MG7 saloon and the MG-TF sports car, which, Nanajing officials say would be priced between $23,300 (approximately Rs10 lakh) and $51,700.

According to reports, the models are a replica of the British version and even sport the Union flag on their bodywork. The Chinese company has retained the acronym of the popular auto brand, MG, marketing it in China as "modern gentleman".

Nanjing Auto, which had acquired the bankrupt MG Rover's models and assets for £53 million in 2005, outbidding China's biggest carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), built a massive new factory and installed robots and assembly lines it bought from MG Rover within six month.

The Chinese company plans to produce 200,000 new cars every year Nanjing. The plant is capable of producing 200,000 cars, 250,000 engines and 100,000 gearboxes annually.

In also plans to continue production at MGs Longbridge factory at Britain for the European market and from next year in Southern Oklahama for the US market.