The REVIVAL of the MG BRAND SPORTS CAR Global business model encompasses Asia, Europe and July 12, 2006 (Oklahoma City, OK) --- Senior officials of Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation (NAC) today announced the revival of the historic MG sports car, as well as plans to build a new MG product in Oklahoma, with the formation of MG Motors North America, Inc., in ceremonies held today in Oklahoma City. Following
the successful efforts to sustain such historically significant English
automotive brands as Aston Martin by Ford Motor Company, Bentley by the
Volkswagen Group, and MINI by BMW, Nanjing Motors has recruited a
seasoned American auto executive, Duke T. Hale, to be the new
company’s President and Chief
Executive Officer responsible for the revival of MG in the U.K. and
Europe followed by the re-launch of MG in North America. “The
prospect of using 25 years of executive experience at Volvo, Mazda,
Isuzu and Lotus to restore MG to the automotive landscape is an
opportunity I just couldn’t turn down,” said Mr. Hale. “Now
that we’ve finalized the important financial, manufacturing and
product planning details of this new venture, I’m well along in
recruiting a team of experienced auto industry executives to join me. A
key ingredient in that effort has been to find the right home to build a
completely new model for a global automotive enterprise,” said Hale. “I’m
confident that Oklahoma fits that description perfectly.” Joining
Mr. Hale at the announcement ceremony were two senior executives from
NAC, Mr. Yu Jianwei, President, and Mr. Wang Hong Biao, Vice President. “Nanjing Motors is fully committed to the restoration of the MG brand to markets around the world. This will be the key component of our Nanjing’s effort to join leading automakers in the manufacture and sale of high quality, high character automobiles,” said Mr. Yu Jianwei, President, NAC. “As we finalize the installation of MG assembly lines in our new Nanjing plant, we are pleased to confirm plans to build the TF roadster once again in Longbridge, U.K. and the new TF Coupe at a completely new facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA. We will have even more to say about our plans during our press conference next Monday, July 17, 2006 at the London Motor Show.”
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP BRINGS $2 BILLION IN FINANCIAL BACKING The
creation of the new MG Motors is the result of extensive planning and
collaboration among a number of partners who share a common vision of
putting modern MG sports cars and sedans back on the road, while extending
availability of the historic English brand to new markets around the
world. Joining
NAC in this effort are Oklahoma Sovereign Development, LLC; Davis Capital,
LLC; the State of Oklahoma; the City of Oklahoma City; and the City of
Ardmore. The collective capital investment pledged by
these parties exceeds $2 billion, including NAC’s new MG plant in China,
re-starting production of the roadster in Longbridge and building an
assembly plant and parts distribution center in the southern Oklahoma city
of Ardmore.
MODEL LINEUP WILL APPEAL TO CONSUMERS WORLDWIDE While
final details will be made available in the months ahead, MG Motors plans
to offer a full range of sports cars and sedans to consumers. The
three sedans will be built at Nanjing’s facilities in China, while the
MG TF roadster will be built at the factory in Longbridge, U.K. A
newly-designed TF Coupe will be built at the Oklahoma facility in Ardmore. According to MG Motors officials, approximately 550 jobs will be created in Oklahoma, including headquarters operations, assembly operations, parts and distribution operations and research and development. The company expects to start construction of the Ardmore assembly facility early in 2007 with production to start by the third quarter of 2008. MG Motors North America, Inc. (MG Motors), is a joint venture with Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation (NAC) and will be solely responsible for the sales, service, parts and distribution of MG vehicles in the U.K., Europe and North America.
OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS BASE FOR US OPERATIONS OF MG BRAND Three Oklahoma Cities Part of Assembly, Headquarters, Research Operations July 12, 2006
(Oklahoma City)
– MG
Motors North America, Inc. today announced the revival of the historic MG
brand of automobiles and to make Oklahoma its base of operation. The
company plans to place its headquarters in Oklahoma City with assembly and
distribution in Ardmore. Research and development will be in Norman at the
University of Oklahoma. The
reasons MG Motors chose Oklahoma are numerous. “We
looked at a lot of different locations around the country, but none could
equal the overall appeal of Oklahoma,” said Duke Hale, CEO of the new
company. “This is a very
business-friendly environment populated by some of the warmest,
friendliest people in the world. Oklahoma
also provides an ideal geographic location to support our distribution
efforts for the North American market and for exporting products
abroad.” Gov.
Brad Henry said MG’s announcement is great news for Oklahoma. “Landing
this project is a testament to our state’s pro-business climate, highly
skilled workforce and commitment to excellence,” Henry said. “This is
a major investment in Oklahoma that will mean hundreds of good-paying jobs.
The unique partnership between Ardmore, Norman and Oklahoma City is
indicative of the cooperation that exists in Oklahoma.” At full capacity, MG
Motors will create more than 500 jobs in Oklahoma, with an estimated
payroll exceeding $30 million. The
assembly plant at the Ardmore Airpark will employ 325 people, the global
headquarters in Oklahoma City will employ 150, and the research and
development component at OU will employ about 35. The creation of the new
MG Motors is the result of more than three years of planning and
collaboration among a variety of partners from across Oklahoma. Ardmore Mayor, John
Moore, believes Ardmore’s proposed International Trade Center was a key
factor in MG’s decision. “The city of Ardmore
and the Ardmore Development Authority are excited by MG Motors decision to
locate the assembly plant in Ardmore,” Moore said.
“It confirms the validity of the International Trade Center
concept and the sound decision of the Legislature in creating the
Opportunity Fund, which was a critical component in providing the
necessary infrastructure for the project.” Oklahoma City Mayor,
Mick Cornett, credits Oklahoma’s pro-business environment as the key to
attracting MG Motors. “This announcement is
another example of how Oklahoma and Oklahoma City are attracting the
attention of global business leaders,” said Cornett. “Our business
climate, our workforce and our quality of life make this a great place to
do business. To be the home of MG Motors North America, Inc. is an honor
and we welcome them to our community.” Norman Mayor, Harold
Haralson, said the project will not only create quality jobs for the
community but also provide students with real-world experience. “The location of the
engineering and design center for this project at the University of
Oklahoma will create private industry and university synergies and will
afford students at the university the opportunity to work in a leading
edge automotive environment,” Haralson said.
“We salute the efforts of the Norman Economic Development
Coalition to secure this portion of the project for our community.”
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