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MG HISTORY
MG is best known for two-seater open top sports cars, however MG also produce saloons and coupés. More recently, the MG brand has also been used to designate sportier versions of other models belonging to the parent company.
There is some speculation when exactly MG was started, some say 1924, some earlier and some say later.
MG took it’s name from "Morris Garages", a dealer of Morris cars in Oxford, who began customised versions following designs by Cecil Kimber who was at the time Gener Manager of Morris Garages. At first Kimber was designing for his own use in competitions, but by 1928 there was enough demand to warrant a separate identity from the original Morris Garages and the MG Car Company Ltd was established that March.
MG was originally owned by William Morris before being sold to Morris Motors in 1935. MG was then absorbed into the British Motor Corporation in 1952, and then British Leyland in 1968.
In 1986 British Leyland became the Rover Group, and in 1988 MG ownership was passed onto British Aerospace, then to BMW in 1994. BMW sold the business in 2000 and so MG became part of the MG Rover Group based in Longbridge, Birmingham. However the MG Rover Group went into receivership in 2005 and car production was suspended on 7th April 2005.
The Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to the MG name, and the assets of the MG Rover Group for £53 million on 22nd July 2005. Nanjing restarted production of the MG TF and MG ZT range in early 2007, the MG TF being produced in Longbridge, whilst the MG ZT (now known as the MG 7) has had it’s assembly moved to China.
The Nanjing Automobile Group has also renamed the brand outside of Europe.
"Under its new Chinese owners, the brand stands for something new in China, as MG general manager Zhang Xin said: "We want Chinese consumers to know this brand as 'Modern Gentleman'. To see that this brand represents grace and style." (Telegraph.co.uk: As Longbridge stands empty, the MG Rover jigsaw takes shape 6,000 miles away. Issued 18.06.06, retrieved 01.08.07)
There is an expected launch of two new cars (to replace the MG ZR and MG ZS) at the end of 2008. These marques will be known as the MG 3 and MG 5.
MG MODELS, PAST & PRESENT
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