No MG plant in Oklahoma

[cannon_fodder]

A while back the Tulsa World reported on Governor Henry triumphantly announcing the construction of an MG manufacturing plant by a Chinese state owned Nanjing Automobile Group in Southern Oklahoma (read Northern Texas).  The North American HQ was to be in OKC and suppliers were touted as coming from OKC, Lawton, Tulsa and Dallas.

NPR reported today that Nanjing Automobile Group is barrow hundreds of millions from China to subsidize its current operations.  When asked about plans for Oklahoma the representative said something along the lines of "it is my understanding that the Oklahoma plant is indefinitely on hold."

Perhaps not a direct impact on Tulsa, but bad news for OKC and Southern Oklahoma.  Which, of course, is bad news for Tulsa.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9177078
click listen for the whole story.

ps.  And you all thought I had my radio welded to KRMG only.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder


ps.  And you all thought I had my radio welded to KRMG only.

You probably do and only listen to npr online.

Too bad about the plant.

[Cubs]

Didn't MG get bought out by someone?

[unknown]

Nanjing purchased MG in 2005 and has owned it since then

[DM]

The TulsaWorld article says:

quote: The company bought British automaker MG Rover Group in 2005. Nanjing, which started MG production at its facility in China, also is building an MG plant in Ardmore. The Oklahoma plant is expected to open in 2008.  

[DM]

Found this on CNN.

quote: Nanjing has signed a letter of intent to make MG cars in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, in a project that could involve $2 billion of state, local government and private investment. Zhang said talks were ongoing and an announcement would be made once a final decision had been reached.

[cannon_fodder]

Thanks DM.  That's very strange that they would release a story to the wire that says the opposite of what they insinuated to NPR.  Guess I learned my lesson about getting news from NPR.

I guess we will know who is full of crap very soon, as an opening in 2008 would mean work starts very soon if not already underway.

[bluelake]

quote:Plans For MG Plant Moving Forward, Oklahoma Officials Say
AP - 3/28/2007 2:58 PM - Updated 3/28/2007 3:02 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Plans by a Chinese automaker to manufacture MG sports cars in Ardmore are alive despite a report that the deal is off, an attorney helping organize the project said Wednesday.

Nanjing Automobile, which launched production of the MG Tuesday in China, previously announced plans to open an assembly line for the car in Ardmore. A news report Wednesday indicated these plans were being abandoned.

The company had no formal response to this report, but Marc Nuttle, a Norman attorney representing Oklahoma interests in the project, said in a statement Wednesday he had just returned from meetings in China to finalize agreements for the Ardmore plant.

"Our business plan remains on schedule to finalize these agreements," he said. "We are in the process now of completing all due diligence."

A statement issued by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and the Ardmore Development Authority echoed Nuttle's comments.

"This is a complicated project, with individuals and companies on three continents, a foreign government and a former company in bankruptcy," the statement said. "There are many details to work through and issues to be resolved, but we are committed to the project and will continue ongoing discussions with all parties involved."

Wes Stucky, head of the Ardmore development agency, said Oklahoma officials are continuing to work to make the project happen.

"I am in charge with developing the airport for them and I am proceeding with that," Stucky said.

State officials last year pledged $20 million as part of financial incentives for the Chinese company to bring the MG plant and a parts distribution center to the state.

A board consisting of Gov. Brad Henry and leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature approved the plan.

Nanjing Automobile Corp., China's oldest carmaker, wants to build a newly designed MG TF Coupe, a rear wheel drive two-seater engineered but never built by MG's former owners.

Ardmore is located about 100 miles south of Oklahoma City along Interstate 35, about half way between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=123732