MG Opens Doors to U.K. Manufacturing Site

MG Motor U.K. is opening most of its Birmingham manufacturing site to tours, and while the car production area is not included, the company hopes to add this in the near future.

Visitors will be given a 2-hour guided tour of the Lowhill Lane site which has been associated with cars for more than 100 years.

They also will be shown inside the huge state-of-the-art technical center where 300 engineers work on new MG cars and components.

Herbert Austin spent nine years in Australia before returning to the U.K. in 1893 and starting the Austin Car Works in 1905. Three years later, he was producing 17 different models.

The auto maker became British Motor in 1952 and later changed to British Leyland in 1968. From 1986 to 1988, it was known as the Rover Group, which was purchased by BMW in 1994. BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000.

MG Rover went into administration in 2005, at which time its key assets were purchased by Chinese auto maker Nanjing Auto and subsequently purchased by General Motors’ Chinese partner, SAIC, in 2008.

Alongside the history, visitors will be able to see the latest 21st century MG models, which are designed and engineered at the Birmingham site.

The latest MG6 GT fastbacks and MG6 Magnette sports sedans are on view in the sales center.