MG cars roll off Longbridge production line

The MG6 has been designed in Britain

The first new MG for 16 years will roll off the production line in Longbridge later.

The MG6 is the first large scale production at the Birmingham plant since the demise of Rover in 2005 with the loss of 6,000 jobs.

A five-seater model will be available to buy from May and is expected to sell for between £15,495 and £18,995.

MG is owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, which is the largest car maker in China.

The MG6 has been designed in the UK but the parts are made in China ready for assembly in Longbridge.

Local MP Richard Burden said: "Today is a real milestone for Longbridge and for the automotive industry in the West Midlands.

"Longbridge has been through dark days. Nothing will bring back the days when thousands were employed on Longbridge production lines.

"But the greatest tribute we can pay to the heritage that made the name Longbridge synonymous with motor manufacturing throughout the 20th century is to build a future in the 21st century.

"Today is about that future. Longbridge is a huge site and we need to make sure that the redevelopment which is taking place beyond the MG factory itself adds real value to the potential which this area has."

MG Rover went into administration in April 2005 with 6,000 jobs axed.

Three months later the company's assets, including the equipment at the Longbridge factory, were sold to Chinese car maker Nanjing.