It is now almost three years since the Nanjing Automobile Group purchased MG Rover, but still there is no sign of production at Longbridge. They were quick enough to dismantle the site and ship it all off to China, but despite all the promises since then nothing has been produced back here in Brum. Last year Nanjing merged with the original favourites to buy the car plant, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), but now no-one seems to want to talk about the future of Longbridge, assuming that it has one.
The Birmingham Mail has now published ten valid questions for Nanjing/SAIC, but don’t hold your breath on a response to any of these …
1) Who is now running Longbridge - Nanjing or SAIC? SAIC President Chen Hong has made the most recent public statements. Is SAIC now solely in charge?
2) When will volume production start? Is there a definite date?
3) Has the plan to produce MGTFs been scrapped or amended in any way, as someunion leaders fear?
4) Do you plan any form of kit assembly, importing from China rather than the volume production promised?
5) How many jobs do you now realistically envisage at Longbridge? Are any new models planned?
6) Nanjing originally said production would restart in early 2007, then last autumn, then the end of March 2008 and now it looks like July at the earliest. Why have so many projected launch dates been and gone?
7) Why have you decided, apparently in a joint decision with Stadco, to end body shell assembly, leading to the potential loss of 30 Longbridge jobs already?
8) Why will you not meet with the unions to discuss their fears?
9) Why will you not update the dealers you appointed last year on the progress of your plans?
10) Why will you not talk to the press?
Indeed.
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2 comments:
You have a really great website!
The photograph of he clean up team made me smile, because earlier this year we had problems with'fly-tipping'We have Wardens now and they are doing a great deal of good to instil a sense of pride.
Posters went up, and we were all invited to join in. Many people were unavailable that day, possibly because of other commitments. I still have one of their 'litter pickers' but it has been tidy now for a while so I have not ventured out recently. It was very amusing when I was asked if I was doing 'community Service'
There was a lack of community cohesion, and still is to a certain degree. I am trying my best to inspire others to work as a team and improve our environment, and have grown a lot of plants for hanging baskets. Basically it brightens up the area and brings people together especially now that we have the occasional Muslim family moving in with different values.
So far, it is not a problem.
all the Best!
Cheers Red Squirrel, have overlooked your own super site and have now linked to it accordingly.
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