Although MG’s current owners – China’s Nanjing Automobile Group Corp. – planned to bring the legendary sports car marque back to the U.S. in summer 2008, that plan clearly fell by the wayside. And 2009 doesn’t look good, either. In fact, Nanjing has suspended MG’s return to the U.S. indefinitely.
“The U.S.A. isn’t on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there,” Gary Hagen, marketing director of NAC MG, told Austin Rover Online.
Nanjing originally planned to produce MG vehicles in Oklahoma, and was also slated to setup a research and development facility at the University of Oklahoma.
Hagen failed to reveal why MG’s U.S. plans had been cancelled, saying only “the deal fell through.” However, since Nanjing took over MG, it too has been acquired by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, according to Automotive News.
The last MG was sold in the U.S. in 1980, but the brand still enjoys a fairly loyal following. Early MG sports cars were extremely influential on the world’s automakers, so much so that an MG is the first car on display in the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
08/26, 6:05 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Bummer. My dad was looking forward to MG being available again.
08/26, 7:41 PM
posted by:
olds307
Who need CHINESE cars on our roads anyway, regardless of the marque—-we already will be having INDIAN cars under Jag and LR marques.
08/26, 7:57 PM
posted by:
gtv6
It’s ok, alfa is coming back
08/26, 7:59 PM
posted by:
megeebee
The one I saw was so bleedin’ ugly, I doubt it would have sold very well.
08/26, 10:56 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
it’s okay, Honda is already here.
08/26, 11:01 PM
posted by:
jandrews90
lol, i know what you mean gtv6, but i still wish MG could also return…
08/26, 11:35 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Clearly, olds307 won’t buy the MG or Chinese or Indian cars. Anyone else interested in what olds307 is going to buy? I thought so.
08/27, 12:39 AM
posted by:
olds307
not gonna buy nothin, dummie… i already got a car
08/27, 8:10 AM
posted by:
zoomnbyu
This matters because why? Even MG die hards do not likely care now that MG is Chinese owned and built. These cars would not likely have any real nostalgic factor. It would need that in abundance to provide the success needed to make ecomonic sense for a US launch. Again, “yawn”.
08/27, 11:58 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“it’s okay, Honda is already here.”
Apparently, you don’t know much about MG. Back in the ’60s, makes like MG, Austin Healey and Triumph built small two-seater touring cars that were simple and fun to drive. These cars had very little in the way of mechanics and electronics, and they were easy to repair and tinker with. They were not that reliable, either, which was part of the fun factor. They were small outside, but big enough inside to fit large people, like my dad who is 6′3.5″ and 260 lbs. Hondas (even the S2000) just don’t have the same amount of room for a driver of that size, and they are much more reliable and tougher to tinker with. Of course, one accident in a car like those old MGs and Healeys and you’d be dead, but the drivers didn’t care because they’d go out with a smile on their face. It’s a totally different kind of car.
“It’s ok, alfa is coming back”
That’s more along the lines of what MG was all about.
“These cars would not likely have any real nostalgic factor.”
Very true, but my dad thought they actually looked good, especially the roadster. It was simple, clean, and not extravagant or flamboyant. He likes a fun car to drive, but not one that stands out in a crowd. So, really, he will be a bit saddened by the news.
08/27, 8:05 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
Idiot, I’ve know about MG for years.
You so touchy. Pick up your ovaries. Their laying on the floor.
08/27, 8:57 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Touchy? That’s funny. I’m not the one resorting to name calling.
I think I have a much more advanced sense of humor than you do, Anti-Believer.
08/27, 11:45 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
U assume you know all I know, so that does make you an idiot.
Like it or not.
Recognized!
08/28, 12:48 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Dammit, and I tried so hard not to blow my cover!
Comparing Honda to MG does kind of make you look like you don’t know much about MG. I made an assumption based on your comment, and I was wrong. But that hardly qualifies me as an “idiot”. That’s just an incorrect assumption based on your very little given information.
And then assuming I’m “touchy” by my comments that explain the nostalgia and fun factor of those old cars is just plain ridiculous. Maybe you do know about MG. But maybe someone else doesn’t. That little anecdote is for others, too. I didn’t get mad at you. I just filled you in on what I incorrectly assumed you didn’t know. So, like it or not, I’m not touchy, nor am I an idiot.
Life’s too short to get upset at comments, so I don’t. I will say that the bad thing about comments on the ‘net is that one can neither hear voice inflection nor see facial expressions. That makes it hard to judge the intentions of someone’s comments.
But now that I look at it, I think you were actually comparing Alpha to Honda. Am I right?