MG Rover factory: New pictures: Still empty...

[Oxygen Thief]

The guys at MG-rover.org got a visit to the SAIC MG factory at Longbridge. Obviously they're full of hope, but to me, this factory is EMPTY. There's no way production of anything other than dust is going to happen 'within a few weeks'...

http://www.mg-rover.org/articles/1/1070/a_rare_opportunity_to_see_inside_the_mg_birmingham _factory/index.htm

Call me sceptical, but what's the point of shipping over an 80% complete, ready painted bodyshell?

I'd like to know whether anyone has been employed and trained yet? Surely the job vacancies must be posted by now. Any links for more info are invited.

[Incognito]

I suspect one reason is to cut the import costs, sending over just a shell is a lot cheaper than paying for a full value car, add a few bits on over here and then call it british built LOL.
Same as you I am a bit sceptical as to wheter or not it'll ever be a running factory again, this was supposed to be and running by now already and it looks like they are no further forward. They do seem to have some good models coming through but the last time I read anything about the old shape 75/zt (round headlamps) was going to be in the line up and not the new face lifted model, seems a step back to me.

[d86]

incog is right.

but, because you are not importing a car there is no new car import duties.
as the car is to be finished in this country it gets the made in england stamp.

if they where to build the car from scratch in the uk they would only get low volume type approval,now this will get around that as the car will (technically) be built in the uk.

giving them free range to import over the 1500 units a year limit,then leading to a no limit production run...(normally 1500 units @ low volume level)

this is basically how we did it with kit cars in the late 80's.(build a car to 90% finished let the customer fit the number plates).

t...:)

[Oxygen Thief]

So that 'production line' will just put a sticker on the back. Sounds like a one man job.

[Misfit]

I thought longbridge had all gone with just the shadow factory left??

or am I getting mixed up with something else :S

Misfit

[SaltGeorge]

So that 'production line' will just put a sticker on the back. Sounds like a one man job.

Nope.

Union rules. On no account should a Sticker Licker perform the duties of a Sticker Sticker. The whole operation to be overseen by a Junior Sticker (Gum Adhesive) Supervisor under the guidance of a Senior Sticker Supervisor. Where self-adhesive stickers are to be used the Sticker Licker will peel the sticker from it's backing before handing it to the Sticker Sticker, for which the Sticker Licker will entitled to a Special Allowance (Self Adhesive).

Managament rules. Four persons engaged in a task are considered a Junior Department and will be managed by a Junior Department Manager with the asistance of an Assistant Assistant (Junior) and an entitlement to admin support equivilent to 1/3rd of a secretary from the Typing Pool.

None of the above make it a certainty the sticker will be applied the right way up.

[Squirrell 911]

Nope.

Union rules. On no account should a Sticker Licker perform the duties of a Sticker Sticker. The whole operation to be overseen by a Junior Sticker (Gum Adhesive) Supervisor under the guidance of a Senior Sticker Supervisor. Where self-adhesive stickers are to be used the Sticker Licker will peel the sticker from it's backing before handing it to the Sticker Sticker, for which the Sticker Licker will entitled to a Special Allowance (Self Adhesive).

Managament rules. Four persons engaged in a task are considered a Junior Department and will be managed by a Junior Department Manager with the asistance of an Assistant Assistant (Junior) and an entitlement to admin support equivilent to 1/3rd of a secretary from the Typing Pool.

None of the above make it a certainty the sticker will be applied the right way up.

And this is why the British car industry went to shit (aswel as them been poorly made and developed)

[SparkUK]

I've not seen any jobs advertised for there, they'd likely be mainly fixed term agency through MSXi and Manpower etc. Doing something there has to be better than nothing, even doing 'flatpack' cars is decent work, Leyland Trucks used to do them. (flatpack Isuzu trucks, not cars )

[SaltGeorge]

And this is why the British car industry went to shit (aswel as them been poorly made and developed)

I think it's why they were poorly made.

[dweeb]

I drive past all the time, shrouded in darkness with nobody going in or out... It's a pack of lies. I'll prove it one day too.

[Gh0sT]

I drive past all the time, shrouded in darkness with nobody going in or out... It's a pack of lies. I'll proove it one day too.

Same here Dweeb , drop and pick the kids up at the school opposite it daily.
All i ever see are JCB's digging the place up and levelling it.
In fact i may take a picture at some point this week of where the main plant used to be.

[Riemann]

If you go to the main entrance closest to the flight shed, you can see some new models waiting to go on to car transporters.

What those images only show you is the new production line, not the one still in use. I think they have 1 or 2 current models and 2 new ones.

There is a brand new design building with over 250 new staff (apparently), a write up from June last year can be seen here...

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2010/06/17/mg-birmingham-brimming-with-british-design-and-engineering-talent/

[SparkUK]

has anyone actually had a proper mooch there recently? Looking at the Rover forums guys pictures, that place looks about five minutes off ready to go.....

[benny]

The guys at MG-rover.org got a visit to the SAIC MG factory at Longbridge. Obviously they're full of hope, but to me, this factory is EMPTY. There's no way production of anything other than dust is going to happen 'within a few weeks'...

http://www.mg-rover.org/articles/1/1070/a_rare_opportunity_to_see_inside_the_mg_birmingham _factory/index.htm

Call me sceptical, but what's the point of shipping over an 80% complete, ready painted bodyshell?

I'd like to know whether anyone has been employed and trained yet? Surely the job vacancies must be posted by now. Any links for more info are invited.


the 80% finished is a tax / import fiddle i used to work for daewoo and they did this on the one model to say it was built here, numtys in korea removed the doors and bumpers loaded them into a container and they met the rest of the car in bristol and they threw them back together .... that production line is no where near ready to take cars, went to the perkins plant last year and they had just started a new engine line it was still beeing fitted as training engines were beeing made loads a workers and gaffers looking and testing to see if the line worked as they had planned .......also spent some time in the landrover factory on the day they switched from model year 2010 -2011 same again gaffers everywhere checking and looking they said the change over of production would take a few weeks ... also work for vauxhall and i know for a fact the first 20 odd plus cars down a new line are just to test the line and there scrapped no sign of this anywhere in this factory if there planning on beeing at full speed in a few weeks they got a lot of work on there hands

[One Flew East]

No offence intended whatsoever to the people who formerly depended on this for a living, but it was a shit product at the end, wasn't it?
Shit as in undesirable.

[SparkUK]

the 80% finished is a tax / import fiddle i used to work for daewoo and they did this on the one model to say it was built here, numtys in korea removed the doors and bumpers loaded them into a container and they met the rest of the car in bristol and they threw them back together .... that production line is no where near ready to take cars, went to the perkins plant last year and they had just started a new engine line it was still beeing fitted as training engines were beeing made loads a workers and gaffers looking and testing to see if the line worked as they had planned .......also spent some time in the landrover factory on the day they switched from model year 2010 -2011 same again gaffers everywhere checking and looking they said the change over of production would take a few weeks ... also work for vauxhall and i know for a fact the first 20 odd plus cars down a new line are just to test the line and there scrapped no sign of this anywhere in this factory if there planning on beeing at full speed in a few weeks they got a lot of work on there hands

They're not looking at starting from scratch though, they're just carrying out a previously validated process somewhere else. It's likely they'll just be ready assembled frames and underbody and partly completed body. Don't get me wrong it's a big task but they're not starting from scratch.

[snappel]

This time two years ago the paint shop was looking very unused, but then again that would tie in with what the website says about parts arriving pre-painted.

[Thestig]

Im glad to see the MG badge on a car, and im not only saying that as my choice of car is a mgzs (i know i know dont remind me lol) but i got say, i do like the look of the new MG6

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i396/davidburnitt1/MG6.jpg

:cool:

[Carl747]

am on a waiting list for a job

[Riemann]

I actually quite liked MG Rovers stuff before they went tits up, especially the sportier range, but also the 75. Really nice cars imo.

That new one looks like a new VW from the front.

[Forsaken]

my choice of car is a mgzs (i know i know dont remind me lol)

Really? The MG ZS+ was easily the worst car I've owned and I now only buy German.

The new model looks a great improvement in the photograph, though. Hopefully it won't cost as much to maintain as the old ones.

[Carl747]

Really? The MG ZS+ was easily the worst car I've owned and I now only buy German.

The new model looks a great improvement in the photograph, though. Hopefully it won't cost as much to maintain as the old ones.

So you don't like the honda civic coz thats all the ZS is under the body lol

Am sure DHL will tell you am a big mg rover nut they made somes great cars the problem was BMW only got them for the Numbers 1/2/4/6/8 and Mini if you go on youtube and look for old news report your'll see the new mini was going to be made under rover at 1st and the BMW 1 series was design at rover as a FWD car moving forwads after BMW the new owners had no money so they could only make cars which was 10 years old really the 25 got milked in the ZR and 25 Streetwise only showing is just how old the car really was

[Forsaken]

So you don't like the honda civic coz thats all the ZS is under the body lol

Am sure DHL will tell you am a big mg rover nut they made somes great cars the problem was BMW only got them for the Numbers 1/2/4/6/8 and Mini if you go on youtube and look for old news report your'll see the new mini was going to be made under rover at 1st and the BMW 1 series was design at rover as a FWD car moving forwads after BMW the new owners had no money so they could only make cars which was 10 years old really the 25 got milked in the ZR and 25 Streetwise only showing is just how old the car really was

And breathe. I couldn't comment, but if it's as poorly built as the ZS, no.

[SparkUK]

am on a waiting list for a job


Is that through an agency? Might be worth looking seeing if they're gearing up.

[Horus]

I had a zr and had nothing but trouble with it cost me a fortune

[SparkUK]

Well I clocked a news report in a colleagues paper today so here's a link to a similar story..... http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/blog/start-uk-production-mg6/22026/

It must be a shadow factory all over again......

[Misfit]

following on from someone elses link a week or two ago

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376467/First-new-MG-rolls-production-line-Longbridge-years.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

ITS BACK!!

[SparkUK]

Well I guess 400 people working is better than none :) Only one woman? What's that all about?

[Squirrell 911]

Well I guess 400 people working is better than none :) Only one woman? What's that all about?

They need someone to make the tea!
:D

[SparkUK]

They need someone to make the tea!
:D

:eek: You'll get yerself in bother you will LOL.

[Misfit]

:eek: You'll get yerself in bother you will LOL.

I was gonna say sandwiches... but you know :P

[vwjetta]

Really? The MG ZS+ was easily the worst car I've owned and I now only buy German..

mr forsaken knows the score the last good rover was the SD1 3500 v8

[Bolf]

Just had a quick look at the spec and the sales website , can't understand how its a 1.8 turbo (sporty brand) and still only , 158bhp and 215nm of torque!

The compression ratio is a staggering 9.2:1 which is unheard of on a sporty turbo car (or one with any amount of power) in mass production , i'm guessing the turbo is TINY and its more of an economy thing.

My works van is quicker to 60!

I'm no means an MG hater either , I used to work in a performance and classic garage and worked on MG's from year one right through to the horrible ZS , I did like the ZT with the v8 and ZF diff though :)

[gas man]

i have the rover 75,owned it 4 years its been 100% reliable but it does have the BMW engine at the end of the day i am a big fan of some of mg rovers motors and its easy to slag the company off,just remember they were our last mass car producer now we have nothing,i hope mg do well but i have driven the new mg6 its a nice car but only as quick as my diesel 75,mind that is chipped:D