MG Rover-News

[Michael1975NE]

Der komplette Artikel  zum 75:

Wednesday 13th July 2005  \t


New 75 Hails Rover's Return...



It's not over for Rover! And in our sensational pictures in this week's Auto Express we take the wraps off two radical new machines which are set to rise from the ashes of the collapsed manufacturer.

Thanks to exclusive inside information, we can show you exactly how the replacements for both the Rover 75 and 45 (Page 8 of this week's issue) will look when they hit showrooms in the UK within the next two years - resurrecting Britain's most important car company.

Both models will be manufactured in the UK by a new firm operating as part of a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) - the Chinese giant which bought the rights to produce the Rover 25, 75 and TF, and build K Series engines. SAIC will design and develop the new cars, which will be sold through the Rover dealer network in Britain. With much of the development work already underway - in the hands of ex-MG Rover engineers at UK-based automotive consultancy Ricardo and the Chinese - insiders estimate that the new 45 and 75 could go on sale as soon as 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Marking a radical departure from traditional Rovers, both models have striking designs. Pictured for the first time, the new 75 is much bolder and sportier than before, featuring a sweeping profile, chunky, high waistline and rising tail. What's more, the car already exists - a prototype version is currently being stored in a secret location at Rover's Longbridge site.

With a fresh and distinctive horseshoe grille plus shapely headlight arrangement - similar in concept to the Audi and Volkswagen corporate look - the next 75 boasts some much-needed aggression. The rear is finished off with swooping tail-lights which extend over the boot line.

The new car is shorter than the current 75, but it is 50mm taller and 100mm longer than BMW's 3-Series, so should offer better interior space than its German rival. Motorists can also expect a luxurious, high-quality cabin - a stand-out feature of the existing car, but which has since been eclipsed by new models such as Volkswagen's Passat. There will be plenty of equipment on offer, including sat-nav and Bluetooth telephone compatibility.

Likely to use a development of the current 75 platform, the fresh model will continue with front-wheel drive, complementing its more dramatic styling with better handling and sharper steering. However, the ride is still likely to be the best in its class for comfort.

Petrol engines will feature the current line-up of 1.8-litre, 1.8 turbo and 2.5 V6 units, with diesel power possibly coming from Volkswagen or General Motors - two of SAIC's partners. An MG ZT version is pencilled in to arrive at the same time as the 75 in 2008, offering a more driver-focused experience and even more dramatic looks. There is also potential for a two-door variant to rival BMW's 3-Series Coupé and the Mercedes CLK.

Und zum 45:

Wednesday 13th July 2005  \t


...And '45' Is On Its Way Back Too!



It's not only the compact executive market that will be targeted by the owners of MG Rover's best technology... SAIC also has its eyes on the huge family car market.

A new medium-sized model - codenamed RD60 - had already made prototype stage in the hands of MG Rover. The work started in Longbridge will be continued to form the 45 replacement. Aimed at the Ford Focus and VW Golf, it will blend the styling cues of the three cars pictured on the right, and the result will be an MPV-like hatch that rivals the all-new Honda Civic for visual drama.

We revealed the back of the MG Rover-built 45 replacement in Issue 845 - and the amazing images in this week's issue prove the story isn't over yet! The car gets a bold Rover badge in a sporty new mesh grille surrounded by chrome. Enhancing the look are narrow headlamps and aggressive spotlights. As on the 75, a high waistline and chunky pillars, combined with relatively small glass areas, mean a strong profile. Further stylish touches include extended wheelarches and distinctive lights set into a one-piece tailgate.

Shorter than the current 45 but longer than a Focus, the newcomer should have one of the most spacious interiors in class
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. Headroom will be particularly impressive due to a tall MPV-like roofline that extends to meet the chopped rear window. Build and material quality is tipped to be as good as in premium brands, with generous equipment, a host of airbags and a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.

Under the skin, the front-wheel-drive car is set to use a modified 75 platform with suspension tuned to give a sporty, but comfortable, driving experience.

The engine range should comprise the existing car's 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8-litre K Series petrol units, with diesel power potentially from VW or GM - as in the 75. Due on sale in 2007, the new 45 should debut at the Paris Motor Show in September 2006. A new MG ZT is likely, too, and both machines could be assembled on the same production line as the current 75 was at Longbridge, to cut costs. "Long-term plans centre on this line," said an insider. "It's set up to take more than one model as it's extendable."

Meanwhile, an all-new supermini is expected to replace both the CityRover and 25. The future of the TF cabrio rests on the joint venture's success - while SAIC owns the rights to build it, there is little demand for sports cars in China.


Beide Artikle stammen aus der aktuellen Auto-Express

[Angus]

SAIC lines up MG Rover rescue bid 

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) has signed an agreement with Martin Leach, ex-head of Ford of Europe, to rescue MG Rover.

They say they will put in a bid to administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to buy Rover's assets.

PwC confirmed it was in talks with three groups, one from the UK and two from abroad, all interested in buying Rover's car and engine-making assets.

Nanjing Automobile of China submitted a bid to PwC on Wednesday.

"All of the potential buyers have an ambition to continue at least some car production in the UK , although it will take some time for any of them to get production up and running again," Tony Lomas of PwC said in a statement.

"All three are intending to acquire all of the car and engine production assets of both MG Rover and Powertrain.

"We are hopeful of concluding a deal in the near future."

The proposal by SAIC and Mr Leech involves a substantial amount of car making at Longbridge and a research centre for new models.

The SAIC-Leach offer - from investment vehicle Magma Holdings - and the Nanjing bid are likely to be the frontrunners among the expressions of interest in Rover's assets.

The SAIC-Leach plan could see the Rover 75 and sports cars built at Rover's Longbridge factory.

The plan would mean jobs for between 1,300 and 1,600 engineers and designers on a new technology site at Longbridge.

SAIC is expected to produce engines at a plant in China, using machinery from Longbridge.

"Magma intends to acquire all of the assets of MG Rover.. and Powertrain Limited," SAIC said in a statement.

"In addition, Magma intends to form a new company to recommence production at Longbridge. SAIC will support Magma's development plans."

Magma was founded by Mr Leach and Edward Sabisky, who has worked at General Motors and as managing director of Masterlease Europe.

Roger Maddison, national officer for motor vehicles at the Amicus union, welcomed the news and said financial assistance would probably be needed.

A deal which involves car production at Longbridge could also benefit creditors.

"In terms of the creditors, I would have thought [PwC] might be as well to keep [Rover] going," Dr Tom Donnelly, director of the motor industry observatory at Coventry Business School, told the BBC's Today programme on Thursday.

"If they don't get a deal, Rover will have to be sold off piecemeal and creditors will get virtually nothing."

Several past attempts to rescue Rover involving SAIC have fallen through.

Rover collapsed in April with the loss of nearly 6,000 jobs after rescue talks with SAIC foundered.

Businessman David James then formed a consortium that wanted to create a new MG car firm, making cars at the Longbridge site.

SAIC refused to commit to the proposal - which required it to buy Rover's engine-making division Powertrain at a later stage - and Mr James withdrew it.

He said on Monday that his deal could only be resurrected if PwC made it clear it would not accept bids from SAIC or Nanjing for parts of Rover, or if the UK government promised to step in as a guarantor for his deal.

BBC News, Thursday, 14 July, 2005

[Angus]

In Kürze nochmal auf deutsch:

14.07.2005, finanztreff.de

MG-Rover-Verwalter verhandeln mit 3 Interessenten über Verkauf

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Die Insolvenzverwalter der MG Rover Group verhandeln mit drei verschiedenen Interessenten über den Verkauf der Vermögenswerte des insolventen Automobilherstellers. Eine Interessentengruppe komme aus Großbritannien und zwei aus dem Ausland, sagte am Donnerstag Tony Lomas, einer der Verwalter und Partner bei PricewaterhouseCoopers. Alle drei Interessenten wollten sowohl die Vermögenswerte der Automobil- als auch der Motorproduktion übernehmen. Alle drei würden zumindest Teile der Produktion im Land halten wollen, auch wenn es etwas dauern werde, die Montage wieder aufzunehmen.

Die Verhandlungen brauchten Zeit, es bestehe jedoch die Hoffnung auf einen Abschluss in naher Zukunft, hieß es. Rover hatte im April Insolvenz angemeldet, nachdem Gespräche über einen Verkauf an die Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) gescheitert waren. Am Berichtstag hatte die SAIC zusammen mit der Magma Holdings Ltd angekündigt, doch wieder an dem Erwerb der Vermögenswerte von MG Rover und der Powertrain Ltd interessiert zu sein.

[Angus]

Wer ist eigentlich...

Martin Leach: Pechvogels Bewährungsprobe

von Oliver Wihofszki

Sein Weg in die absolute Spitzenklasse der Top-Automanager schien unaufhaltsam. Doch dann im Sommer 2003 nahm die bis dahin steil nach oben verlaufende Karriere des Martin Leach eine skurrile Wende.

Von der Wende hat sich der 47-Jährige, der jetzt Rover kaufen und wieder beleben will, bis heute nicht so richtig erholt hat. Damals war Leach Europachef bei Ford in Köln und galt als heißester Kandidat für einen Posten in der Vorstandsetage der amerikanischen Muttergesellschaft. Dann kam ein Angebot von Fiat. Die wollten den gebürtigen Australier wegen seiner Erfolge gern zu ihrem Autochef machen.

Leach war sich mit den Italienern einig, erhielt wegen Vertragsklauseln aber keine Freigabe von Ford. Schließlich ist Fiat ein Rivale, und dorthin wollte man das eigene Wunderkind nicht ziehen lassen. Fiat verpflichtete deshalb einen anderen Chef. Pech für Leach. Er trat frustriert bei Ford zurück - und plötzlich stand der Star unter den internationalen Automanagern ohne Job da.
(...)
Seit seiner Zeit bei Ford konnte Leach derartige Lobeshymnen allerdings nie bestätigen. Nach einem kurzen und glücklosen Gastspiel bei Maserati verließ er Anfang des Jahres den Sportwagenhersteller, bei dem damals die Besitzverhältnisse neu geordnet wurden. Jetzt taucht der Manager aus der Versenkung auf. Mit seiner Magma Holding und dem chinesischen Autokonzern SAIC bietet er für die bankrotte britische Traditionsmarke Rover. Es scheint fast so, als wolle Leach nicht länger warten, bis ihn der Headhunter eines Autokonzerns anwirbt: Er kauft sich einfach sein eigenes Unternehmen.
(...)
Sollte er Rover kaufen, steht ihm die erste richtige Bewährungsprobe bevor.

Aus der FTD vom 15.07.2005

[Angus]

Die überarbeitete und aktuelle Fassung der BBC:

SAIC lines up MG Rover rescue bid 

Businessman David James' consortium is the third party in talks with the administrators for carmaker MG Rover, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
On Monday he said he would withdraw his proposal for turning Rover into a sportscar-making company, branded MG.

But PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the administrators, said on Thursday it was in talks with three groups: one from the UK. This is thought to be Mr James.

The others are Nanjing and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp/Magma.

All are hoping to buy Rover's car and engine-making assets.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) has signed an agreement with Martin Leach, ex-head of Ford of Europe, to rescue MG Rover.

They said on Thursday they would put in a bid to administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to buy Rover's assets.

Martin Leach's bid vehicle is called Magma Holdings and also involves Ed Sabisky, a former finance director of Vauxhall.

Nanjing Automobile of China is believed to have submitted a bid to PwC on Wednesday.

"All of the potential buyers have an ambition to continue at least some car production in the UK , although it will take some time for any of them to get production up and running again," Tony Lomas of PwC said in a statement.

"All three are intending to acquire all of the car and engine production assets of both MG Rover and Powertrain.

"We are hopeful of concluding a deal in the near future."

The proposal by SAIC and Mr Leach involves a substantial amount of car making at Longbridge and a research centre for new models.

The SAIC-Leach offer and the Nanjing bid are likely to be the frontrunners among the expressions of interest in Rover's assets.

The SAIC-Leach plan could see the Rover 75 and sports cars built at Rover's Longbridge factory.

The plan would mean jobs for between 1,300 and 1,600 engineers and designers on a new technology site at Longbridge.

SAIC is expected to produce engines at a plant in China, using machinery from Longbridge.

"Magma intends to acquire all of the assets of MG Rover.. and Powertrain Limited," SAIC said in a statement.

"In addition, Magma intends to form a new company to recommence production at Longbridge. SAIC will support Magma's development plans."

Roger Maddison, national officer for motor vehicles at the Amicus union, welcomed the news and said financial assistance would probably be needed.

And Tony Woodley, T&G general secretary, said: "We have worked extremely hard before and since the collapse of Rover to resurrect a SAIC deal because that and only that will reopen Longbridge for volume manufacturing alongside investment for new models.

"With no disrespect to Nanjing, who I have no doubt are sincere about their own plan, there is a massive difference for Britain and British workers' jobs between the bids. The Government and the administrators need to give the full support that's now required."

A deal which involves car production at Longbridge could also benefit creditors.

"In terms of the creditors, I would have thought [PwC] might be as well to keep [Rover] going," Dr Tom Donnelly, director of the motor industry observatory at Coventry Business School, told the BBC's Today programme on Thursday.

"If they don't get a deal, Rover will have to be sold off piecemeal and creditors will get virtually nothing."

Several past attempts to rescue Rover involving SAIC have fallen through.

Rover collapsed in April with the loss of nearly 6,000 jobs after rescue talks with SAIC foundered.

Businessman David James then formed a consortium that wanted to create a new MG car firm, making cars at the Longbridge site.

SAIC refused to commit to the proposal - which required it to buy Rover's engine-making division Powertrain at a later stage - and Mr James withdrew it.

He said on Monday that his deal could only be resurrected if PwC made it clear it would not accept bids from SAIC or Nanjing for parts of Rover, or if the UK government promised to step in as a guarantor for his deal.

BBC News, Friday, 15 July, 2005

[Angus]

MG Rover sale won't lead to mass output -source

Reuters, Sat Jul 16, 2005

LONDON (Reuters) - The eventual buyer of bankrupt MG Rover is unlikely to resume major production in the UK, given that the two credible bids for the carmaker focus on shipping assets to China, a source close to talks told Reuters on Friday.

"Both parties have a simple plan: to buy the assets, ship most of them back to China and (then) see what they can do in the UK," the source said.

Chinese bidders Shanghai Automotive Corp. (SAIC) and Nanjing Automotive have both lodged bids for the assets of Britain's last major carmaker.

But hopes had been hyped in the media that either SAIC, which has teamed up with former Ford Europe (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) boss Martin Leach, or Nanjing would revive major production at Longbridge, the source said.

"The TGWU (Transport & General Workers Union) wants SAIC to succeed because they (SAIC) are illusioning (sic) that there'll be significant employment in the UK," the source said.

"Long term, I can't see why anyone would want volume production at Longbridge. Specialist consultants and engineers are a different matter."

SAIC rejected the comments.

"We see this joint approach as a significant step forward in the resumption of car production at Longbridge," a SAIC spokesman said.

Sources have said the SAIC consortium is proposing to establish a design and engineering centre in Longbridge employing 1,300 to 1,600 people. Other sources close to the talks have said the SAIC bid involved what they described as "serious" production at Longbridge.

MG Rover's administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said late on Thursday they were in talks with three different parties. which all hoped to continue "at least some car production in the UK". PwC declined to comment on Friday.

Only the two Chinese bids were credible, the source said. British businessman David James has been seeking a government loan guarantee to get a third, separate proposal off the ground.

Administrators have set bidders the challenge of formulating contracts and delivering cash up front to honour their bids, and a deal is unlikely before the second half of next week, the source added.

MG Rover filed for bankruptcy in April after SAIC pulled out of a joint venture.

[Angus]

Gekürzt auf die wichtigsten Neuinfos:

Rover 'to go to highest bid from China'

Tom McGhie, Mail on Sunday
17 July 2005

ROVER administrator Tony Lomas is expected this week to seal the fate of the stricken car maker.

Two state-owned Chinese car companies, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and Nanjing Automotive, have tabled almost identical offers in terms of keeping some production in Britain. A third bid by former Dome troubleshooter David James is believed to have run into financial problems.

The Chinese firms are bidding between £40m and £50m for MG Rover, which went into administration in April.

Pressure from unions to persuade the administrator to pick the bidder offering the best chance for jobs in the West Midlands led to speculation that Lomas would favour SAIC.
(...)
But Financial Mail understands that Lomas believes his duty to creditors is to go for the highest bid.

Nanjing, partnered with design consultancy Arup, was the victim of a whispering campaign last week, with suggestions that it did not have the resources to buy MG Rover and was merely interested in buying the assets and shipping them to China.

But Financial Mail can reveal that Nanjing would maintain design and production in Britain and build existing MG sports cars, a new sports car and the Rover 75 in the UK.

Production of small and medium cars would be in China, but vehicles for the UK would be sent to Rover's Longbridge plant for final assembly.

Arup, which worked with MG Rover, has designed revolutionary-looking versions of the MG range. MG cars sold in China would be badged as Austin, but known as MG Rovers in the UK and the Continent.

Nanjing has held talks with British consortia that hoped to buy some or all of MG Rover, including Chapman Automotive and West Midlands haulier Martyn Moseley.

[AC-3EX]

\t
Autoindustrie:
Chinesen buhlen um Rest von Rover

Von unserem Korrespondenten DIETER CLAASSEN (Die Presse) 18.07.2005

Wettstreit um die Konkursmasse des britischen Autoherstellers.

wien. Bei Rover regt sich wieder neue Hoffnung. Drei Konsortien, zwei davon aus China, wollen die Reste der im April Pleite gegangenen MG Rover Gruppe übernehmen und sogar begrenzt die Pkw-Produktion in dem Stammwerk Longbridge bei Birmingham wieder aufnehmen. "Alle drei Gruppen haben den Ehrgeiz, zumindest einen Teil der Pkw-Fertigung wieder zu starten", sagt der für das Unternehmen zuständige Insolvenzverwalter Tony Lomas von den Wirtschaftsprüfern PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Lomas hofft "in nächster Zukunft" auf einen Vertragsabschluss.

Die chinesische Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) hat dem Vernehmen nach die größten Chancen, den Zuschlag für die Übernahme des Stammwerkes in Longbridge und des dortigen Entwicklungszentrums sowie der Sportwagenfertigung und des Motorenwerkes Powertrain zu erhalten. Das Unternehmen, der immerhin größte Autobauer Chinas, hat sich mit einem Konsortium des ehemaligen Ford-Managers Martin Leach zusammengetan.

SAIC und der Brite planen nach Angaben des Gewerkschafters Tony Woodley eine "begrenzte Wiederaufnahme der Produktion" bei Rover. Fachkreise glauben, dass es sich dabei lediglich um die Produktion von MG Sportwagen handeln werde. Allerdings solle das von SAIC geplante Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum etwa 1300 bis 1600 Ingenieuren Arbeit bieten. Das Motorenwerk Powertrain soll dagegen aus Kostengründen nicht wieder eröffnet, sondern seine Produktionsanlagen vielmehr nach China verschifft werden. SAIC will das bisher von Rover gebaute Mittelklassemodell Rover 75 unter eigenem Namen in China auf den Markt bringen. Der Wagen soll auf den von Rover erworbenen Lizenzen basieren. Bisher produzierte SAIC Fahrzeuge für General Motors und Volkswagen unter deren Markennamen.

Der Wert des gemeinsamen Gebots von SAIC und dem Leach-Konsortium namens Magma wird mit 40 bis 50 Mill. Pfund (bis zu knapp 72 Mill. Euro) beziffert.

SAIC ist für Rover keine Unbekannte. MG Rover war im April mit Schulden in Höhe von 1,4 Mrd. Pfund dem Insolvenzverwalter überantwortet worden, als ein geplantes Joint Venture mit SAIC in letzter Minute an den zu hohen Verbindlichkeiten gescheitert war. Mehr als 5000 Rover-Beschäftigte haben seitdem ihren Job verloren.

Dem zweiten chinesischen Bieter, der ebenfalls staatlich kontrollierten Nanking Automobile Corp., werden hingegen geringere Chancen eingeräumt. Sie steht unter dem Verdacht, den größten Teil der Anlagen des einstigen Flaggschiffs des britischen Automobilbaus nach China abtransportieren zu wollen.

Das bestreitet das Nanking-Lager. Das Unternehmen plane vielmehr eine neue Modellreihe auf der Basis der MG-TF Rover-Sportwagen zu entwickeln, und sogar den Rover 75, ein Modell der gehobenen Mittelklasse, weiterzubauen.

Die geringsten Chancen werden indes einem Konsortium aus Geschäftsleuten in Birmingham unter dem Sanierungsexperten, David James, zugesprochen. Er bemüht sich aber noch um einen Kredit von der Regierung.

[Angus]

Decision time looms for MG Rover

IS THIS the shape of things to come for crippled MG Rover?

Nanjing Auto, the Chinese carmaker, has designed a new range of MG Rover sports cars to be built at Longbridge in Birmingham if its £50 million bid for the failed manufacturer is successful this week.

The company is facing competition from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the largest Chinese state-owned carmaker, which has signed a letter of intent with Magma, a company controlled by former Ford Europe boss Martin Leach.

David James, the company turnaround specialist, is also trying to mount a bid.

"Nanjing's strategy is to have a UK base with design, engineering and manufacturing here supporting a UK brand delivering high-value prestige products," an executive close to the Chinese state-owned manufacturer said yesterday.

He added: "Nanjing has a strong manufacturing heritage and it has partnered with Arup [the UK engineering group] and together they've developed a road map for exciting new vehicles to be designed, engineered and manufactured both in the UK and in China."

If it succeeds, Nanjing is also understood to be planning to transport some of the MG Rover production facilities to China, where it will build small cars for the domestic market.

Nanjing believes it can use the economies of scale generated through the high volumes of sales to the Chinese market to subsidise the export of parts for the cars to be assembled in the UK.

Nanjing has lodged a bid with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the administrator, for the entire assets of the MG Rover group including Powertrain, the engines and transmissions business.

scotsman.com, Mon 18 Jul 2005

[Angus]

In profile: MG Rover's three bidders

Eine sehr gelungene Zusammenstellung der aktuellen Situation und detaillierte Erläuterungen zu den drei Bieterfirmen sind nochmal unter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4693311.stm

von der BBC zusammengefasst (stelle den Inhalt nicht noch einmal hier rein, da vieles bereits bekannt ist).

[Angus]

Two MG Rover bids 'on the table'  

Administrators for MG Rover are studying two detailed offers to buy its entire assets, both of which are likely to see production resume at Longbridge.
Bids have come from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, together with former Ford boss Martin Leach, and from Nanjing Automobile Corporation.

It emerged on Monday that SAIC will provide all the funding for the bid, though Mr Leach will run the business.

A decision on a sale is expected within the next week.
(...)
If successful, SAIC aims to establish a manufacturing, distribution and research centre at Longbridge to be run by Mr Leach's Magma Corporation.

It is expected that production of the MG TF sports car and the Rover 75 saloon would resume there, with the ultimate aim of developing new models from 2007 onwards.
(...)
Under Nanjing's proposals, production of MG sports cars would restart in the west Midlands - probably at Longbridge - as would the design and manufacturing of high-value saloons.

Nanjing plans to use MG as its main marque in Europe while developing other MG Rover brands elsewhere, potentially including Austin in China.
(...)

BBC News, Monday, 18 July, 2005

[Angus]

Chinesischer Autobauer SAIC gibt Kaufangebot für MG Rover ab

Di Jul 19, Reuters

Frankfurt (Reuters) - Der chinesische Autobauer SAIC will den insolventen britischen Autokonzern MG Rover nun doch kaufen und die Produktion in Mittengland wieder aufnehmen.

Das Unternehmen habe offiziell ein Gebot für MG Rover und den Getriebe-Tochter Powertrain eingereicht, teilte die Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) am Dienstag mit. Das Unternehmen wolle bei der Entwicklung und Vermarktung von neuen Modellen mit Magma Holdings zusammenarbeiten. Die Produktion im Rover-Werk Longbridge solle wieder aufgenommen werden. Hinter Magma stecken der ehemalige Europachef des US-Autobauers Ford, Martin Leach, und der frühere General-Motors-Manager Edward Sabisky. Finanzielle Einzelheiten nannte SAIC nicht.

Rover, der letzte unabhängige britische Autokonzern, wird seit seiner Pleite im April von PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) zwangsverwaltet. Der Insolvenzverwalter hatte vergangene Woche mitgeteilt, PWC sei in Gesprächen mit drei Kaufinteressenten. Neben SAIC seien das die chinesische Nanjing Automotive und der britische Geschäftsmann David James. Alle drei wollten zumindest einen Teil der Produktion in Großbritannien aufrecht erhalten.

SAIC hatte schon vor der Insolvenz lange mit Rover über ein Gemeinschaftsunternehmen als Dach eines britisch-chinesischen Konzerns verhandelt. Chinas größter Autohersteller wollte sich damit ein Standbein in Europa schaffen. Das Vorhaben war jedoch an den hohen finanziellen Verbindlichkeiten gescheitert, die auf Rover lasten.

[Angus]

James poised to launch Rover bid  

A group led by businessman David James is set to bid for the entire assets of MG Rover within the next 48 hours.
Mr James hopes to resurrect Rover as a niche car manufacturer but his plans depend on him finding a buyer for the engine design business Powertrain.

Administrators are understood to have given Mr James a couple of days to put forward a firm proposition.

Bids have already come from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and from Nanjing Automobile Corporation.

SAIC is teaming up with former Ford of Europe chief Martin Leach.

Mr James said his consortium had the funds in place to bid for Rover.

However, he stressed that his plans hinged on finding an immediate buyer for Powertrain.

"We believe that we can build the MG side of it into a niche car category," he told the BBC.

Mr James said he believed he could persuade other British and international car makers to develop small-scale production at Longbridge, leading to a "very big escalation in employment".

"We don't believe in the mass production concept. We believe in niche products and that is exactly where we are going with our bid," he said.
Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers are already studying two detailed offers to buy MG Rover, both of which are likely to see production resume at Longbridge.

A decision on a sale is expected within the next week.
(...)

BBC News, Tuesday, 19 July, 2005

[Angus]

BIETER-WETTSTREIT

SAIC will 3000 Stellen bei Rover garantieren

Welcher Bieter wird beim fallierten MG-Rover-Konzern zum Zuge kommen? Nicht unbedingt derjenige, der den höchsten Preis bietet, sagte sich der chinesische Autokonzern SAIC. Die Asiaten garantieren stattdessen angeblich für 3000 Jobs am Stammsitz in Longbrigde, wenn sie den Zuschlag erhalten.

London - Im Poker um die Zukunft des zusammengebrochenen britischen Autobauers MG Rover will der chinesische Autokonzern SAIC nach Informationen der "Financial Times" (FT) mit weit reichenden Stellenangeboten punkten.

Demnach soll die Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), die bis zu 60 Millionen Pfund (87 Millionen Euro) für Rover bietet, bei einem Zuschlag mehr als 3000 Jobs am Rover-Stammsitz Longbridge erhalten.

Dort solle ein Entwicklungs- und Designzentrum eingerichtet werden. Weitere Stellen könne es in Produktion und Verwaltung geben.

Im Jahr 2009 könne Rover so wieder auf eine Jahresproduktion von über 100.000 Autos kommen, schreibt die "FT". Neben SAIC, die als Partner den Ex-Ford-Europa-Chef Martin Leach gewonnen haben, soll auch der chinesische Konkurrent Nanjing Automobile an MG Rover interessiert sein. Nanjing will aber deutlich weniger Stellen in Longbridge erhalten. Derzeit blicken 6100 Beschäftigte bei Rover in eine ungewisse Zukunft.

Die geringsten Chancen auf einen Zuschlag werden indes einem Konsortium aus Geschäftsleuten in Birmingham unter dem Sanierungsexperten David James zugesprochen. Er bemüht sich aber noch um einen Kredit von der Regierung.

"Alle drei Gruppen haben den Ehrgeiz, zumindest einen Teil der Pkw-Fertigung wieder zu starten", sagt der für das Unternehmen zuständige Insolvenzverwalter Tony Lomas von den Wirtschaftsprüfern PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Lomas hofft "in nächster Zukunft" auf einen Vertragsabschluss.

manager-magazin.de,  19.07.2005

[ZT-T blue]

Konzern aus China kauft Rover

LONDON ap Der chinesische Autokonzern Shanghai Automotive Industry (SAIC) will nun doch sämtliche Vermögenswerte des Bankrott gegangenen britischen Autobauers Rover kaufen. Zudem soll die Produktion am Rover-Standort in Longbridge, Mittelengland, wieder aufgenommen werden. SAIC unterbreitete gestern ein Übernahmeangebot für die Vermögenswerte von Rover und der Tochterfirma Powertrain. Anfang des Jahres hatten die Schanghaier einen Deal mit Rover platzen lassen und damit den Konkurs und Verlust von 6.000 Arbeitsplätzen der Traditionsfirma besiegelt. Rover wird seit seiner Pleite von Price Waterhouse Coopers zwangsverwaltet.

taz Nr. 7720 vom 20.7.2005, Seite 9