New hope for Rover production

Aug 22 2005 By Jon Griffin, Evening Mail

ROVER cars could be built at Longbridge alongside MGs if new owners Nanjing are prepared to pay for the licence rights, it was revealed today.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, owners of design rights to the Rover 75, 25 and some Powertrain engines, has offered its Chinese rival an olive branch which could prove a massive boost to output at Longbridge.

SAIC today said it was willing to negotiate over the intellectual property rights to the Rover brand it bought for £67 million last November. It also warned that it would take "robust" legal action to defend its rights in the event of abuse by Nanjing, who beat SAIC in the race to buy Longbridge last month.

But a SAIC source said: "SAIC are a sensible commercial company. If Nanjing are willing to pay for a licence to use those assets, they would give that due consideration."

A new business plan for the Birmingham car plant is being drawn up by Nanjing Automotive and its UK partner GB Sports amid speculation that between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs may be secured.