Four years after the collapse of MG Rover, an independent report into the circumstances surrounding the demise of the UK�s last domestically owned mass-production carmaker is highly critical of its executives.
Some 6,000 jobs were lost when the vast Longbridge plant was closed in 2005. Three years later, 90% of them had found new jobs, though two-thirds had seen their pay fall by an average �5,640 a year, according to the Work Foundation.
The eventual collapse came only five years after workers had been fighting for their jobs. In 2000, BMW sold the loss-making operation to Phoenix Venture Holdings for a symbolic �10. BMW also gave the new owner a �427m interest-free loan.
The �10 payment did not include Rover's Mini, which was relaunched by BMW as New Mini in 2001. Between 1959 and 2000, a total of 5,387,862 Minis were sold. Since then, BMW has sold 1.5 million New Minis.
Land Rover - which had been a best-seller for Rover during the 1950s, �60s and �70s - was also sold separately. Ford incorporated it into its luxury division before selling it to Indian automotive group Tata Motors in 2008.
Rover spent many of its mass-production years as a subsidiary of British Leyland, which also made the Morris Marina. The group�s name changed several times, as did its structure, though it failed and was bailed out and nationalised in 1975.
During the 1970s, a power battle with the trade union, led by shop steward Derek Robinson, meant the management was struggling to retain control. In 1979, when "Red Robbo" was sacked, workers voted against a strike to support him and production resumed.
In 1981, Austin Rover emerged from the wreckage to produce Rovers, as well as Triumph, Morris, Riley and Wolseley. In 1986, the 800 flagship model was launched and soon the company was sold to British Aerospace, which cooperated with Honda.
British Aerospace viewed Rover as a luxury brand, but, as BMW would find out after buying it in 1994, consumers did not agree � in spite of its Rover 75 being voted �car of the year� in 1999. BMW soon decided to get out rather than to invest more.
It was a different story at Longbridge when, less than half a century earlier, the British Motor Corporation was formed. At the time, the cars made there � such as these 1952 MG TD Midgets - were deemed luxurious, sporty and fashionable.
A pioneer in the automotive industry, the Rover Company produced its first car in 1904 and many have fond memories of models made by the firm over the years.
This heritage was a crucial factor behind the reopening of the Longbridge plant iin May 2007 by MG�s Chinese owner, Nanjing Automobile, though no one expects production volumes to return to those seen during Rover�s heyday. Text: Jorn Madslien.
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