MGR TEAM UP WITH CHINA BRILLIANCE

MG Rover and China Brilliance Holdings have formed an alliance in which they agree to finance, develop and manufacture world class vehicles. This means we could see MGR cars being manufactured in China. Conversely it is quite possible that Chinese built cars could appear on the UK market bearing a Rover badge. The first fruit of this alliance may well be the 45 based project car the " TCV " unveiled at Geneva which could end up being built in China. There are also plans for a new small car , the first since the Rover 100 bit the dust , and other future models. There will also be combined research and development of new power units. Both companies will share in any future profits as a result of the alliance. CBIH will have exclusivity for sales in China, Asia and Africa whilst MGR will cover all other markets with the possibility of a joint effort in the US.

So -  who are China Brilliance ?  Virtually no one will have heard of this company in the UK but in China they are the leading Automotive holding company - a parent for a number of other manufacturers. They have already formed similar agreements with other major companies such as  Mitsubishi, Toyota and Renault 

What do they actually make ? They don't actually manufacuture anything themselves being a "holding company" but they do have fingers in many pies and  currently preside over the largest manufacturer of mini buses in China. One of there most ambitious and popular products is the Zhonghua motor car  produced through the Shenyang Gold Cup Auto Making Company, which is the first  totally Chinese designed and built vehicle.

What is the benefit of an alliance ? Financial security mainly - this should ensure the future of MGR. Vast resources to be shared between the companies particularly in the fields of development. Possibility of  Rover production in China. Distribution of Chinese vehicles in the UK under the Rover badge. 

Any Drawbacks ? It's hard to say but there could be a danger of MG production moving to China for financial reasons - MGR could be engulfed within the influence of China Brilliance and the individuality of the company lost. We could no longer see "Traditional" MG's made - MGR could end up making anonymous "Global" cars. . Doesn't seem to be much prospect for sports cars in the agreement so how will the MG brand fit in |? Hopefully that is just doom mongering though and the alliance will prove to be a great benefit to MGR and we will continue to see MG sports cars on the UK's roads - who knows perhaps it won't be long before we will see Trophy Yellow Brilliant TF's on the streets of Beijing !



This is the Zhonghua - could we see this under the Rover badge in the UK ?