Search found 19 matches for Dorset Rocket

Yes, I think their dealer development people are actually saying that they are looking for dealers with other income streams or muli franchises so they are not solely relying on MG whilst the model range develops. My nearest dealer in Yeovil, appointed last November, is also a Mazda specialist, Isuzu and Proton dealer all on the same site, but he has allocated his main sales area to MG so I hope he hangs on until I can buy that MG3 from him!

Lets hope they attract some new ones at the dealer show in May where they are apparently showing off the MG3 albiet in Chinese spec. Hopefully they will also give prospective dealers some pics of the new 'Redline' and BTCC spec cars that they are showing in China this week - getting these more sporty spec'd versions of the 6 over here PDQ has got to be their aim now, as I dont think we are going to see the UK spec 3 here until early 2013.

Checking MG's website this week I notice they are now down to 37 UK dealers doing 'sales' compared to 41 when I last looked in February. Given that only three new ones have joined this year, they appear to have been more than offset by those who have given up or moved to 'aftersales only'. On the face of it, a pretty dire situation for a company with a target of 50 dealers by the end of 2012. Does anyone know what the mood is among dealers at the moment?

Yes, I understand the MG6 diesel will start being produced at Longbridge in September for dealer launch in October.

Given that most 6's sold in China have auto's and I saw something recently that they had developed some new box (with two clutches??) I would have thought an auto will be here soon, if only on the Magnette, which they are perhaps now separating from the GT model as the more 'sensible' 6, hopfully to give them more scope to market the two models separately and even, dare I say 'boy up' the GT in response to BTCC success...

Ahh, I had not noticed the improved MPG and CO2 figures! As a potential customer who gets their email newsletter I'm surprised they have not updated evryone on this... Does it affect the RFL duty yet? Presume also the higher spec versions will get the new 6 speed 'box as well when the diesel comes out so further improving consumption.

Just looking that the 'refreshed' MG website and noticed that they only now list one Magnette model at £19955 and all the GT model prices have reduced by £40 so the S is now £15,455. Some sort of strategy going on here do we think, or is there a simpler answer - ie all the S and SE spec Magnettes have gone to Avis and they only have TSE's left??

As a BL, ARG, Rover, MG etc. watcher since the late 1970's I've seen a fair few 'dark days' and when the doomsayers on other online sites started to doubt the commitment of MG a couple of months ago I just though 'Oh no, not again', despite trying hard not to agree with them.

It is all about being able to see a strategy and a robust long term plan. As you say, should they have waited till they had a full range to launch? - No - if only to start to build the brand, the dealer network and trial the logistics of shipping cars in containers from China for final assembly at Longbridge, they needed to get the MG6 into the UK market to start the relaunch. Those of us watching from the sidelines need to keep calm and watch the strategy unfold with interest and hopefully some well justified excitement.

All that said the MG3 is clearly now key to volume sales. At present I am only aware of a 1.5 turbo petrol and the 'standard' plus the 'SW' body styles - one not very efficent petrol engine at launch sounds a bit to familiar - do we know yet if they will have a deisel ready at the UK launch date?

I agree that a strategy of sorts is beginning to emerge and the BTTC and its marketing spin offs should keep dealers interested and attract new ones. The main thing is that with the BTCC, Avis, the new finance packages, the diesel and then the MG3 all happening this year, they do seem to be showing commitment to develop the brand and build sales.
Something that in the dark days of Autumn 2011 we were all starting to question.

Could still do with some nice product placement on the telly though ..pity Downton Abbey has still only got to the 1920's..

I expect you are right and they have put another 100 with Avis, but after the great nashing of teeth on various enthusiast websites following the dismal figures in October and November, I am surprised nobody is commenting on the 107 in January. As you say, the dealers are having a rough time and it would be great if things were starting to get better for them. I really worry that our new dealer in Yeovil will hang on long enough for me to buy an MG3 from him!

Just noticed that according to SMMT MG regitered 107 cars in January! Thats 100 more than November 2011 and when the 100 to Avis are deducted from the December figures, the highest number for MG in the UK since the relaunch. Have they finally turned the corner?

As far as I know they are now 'aftersales only' and their website gives no mention of MG.

Could be. As I mentioned to him, the Poole/B'mth/XChurch conurbation is the 10th largest popualation centre in the UK so they need representation there now Sewards have given up..

Yep, I was a bit surpried at their approach, but they did take my details and are going to invite me to their launch weekend! When I told him about their attitude, Keith at MG said they were going to put 'comming soon' on the website for forthcomming dealers in future. Also he said they are well advanced in discussions with a new dealer in Poole, Dorset so that may be a better location for me.

We live in intersting times ..!

In the south west there is also Lynx Garage in Yeovil who have been a new entry on the MG website recently but when I went to see them they had not signed their contract and were a little annoyed at being mentioned by MG, so I have a feeling some of the other new names may still be only at the final negotiation stage. Lynx now expect their first cars by the end of October.

Hopefully when all these new ones do get up an running the sales will start to move - 42 in September is pretty dire and at 10 sales a week - where are they storing the other 56 they make a week (recent BCC interview with MG said production is now 66 a week)?

I think Guy's figure of 2000 was for first years production rather than sales, but I may be wrong.
If it was production and IF by June 2012 there are 50 dealers, say with 4 unregistered cars each, plus 200 more in the supply chain/at the factory, then perhaps we are looking at 1600 forecast sales by June 2012 rather than 2000.
That means if the first 3 months (June/july Aug '11) is going to be about 180 sales, then if next 3 months (with September new reg boost)is about 400, then say 300 over the winter months and 600 next spring (hopefully boosted by the new dealers and the diesel engine) we are up to nearly 1500...OK I'm just playing with numbers, but I guess they must have a plan and hopefully they are not as worried about the low sales so far as we are..

richardk,

Thanks for your welcome

I agree these are exciting times especially for those of us who have been MG/Rover/BL watchers over the years.

Yesit is as much Europe as the UK market that SIAC have their eyes on and that will drive the desision making. I am not sure the 3 could also go down the same line as the 6 due to the very different sizes and platford designs, but I do think we may see upmarket versions of the MG 5 coming out of Longbridge.

There is a great team at the factory now but they will be guided by SIAC's commercial interests. My thoughts on UK production are that the 6 will be the core product for a while, then the 5 crossover and then the 'new sports car', which above all has to be assembled in the UK, if only because there is still only a very small market for open 2 seaters in China.

Regarding the 3, I think it will be imported fully assembled in the same way MG R did with the Cityrover from India as that will be the most cost effective solution - but lets hope that is the only commality it has with Cityrover!

We have to ask ourselves, what is the market for a fairly expensive to run, 1.8 petrol turbo C/D segment car in the UK in 2011?; how many can a diverse network of 40 or so small dealers who have only just got their new branding, sell with little financial incentives and to a market largely unaware that MG is back?
Check out the websites of MG dealers accross the country - some hardly mention the brand at all.

Given the above, 40 or 50 sales a month is pretty good.

The key will be the new registrations in September - the biggest month for private sales. If MG dealers fail to shift 100 cars accross the country in September then I agree we should start to worry!

I agree with the timelime for introduction of UK cars ( MG 3 late 2012 etc) but it is optimistic, as we need to remember that the key to UK market availability is the logistics of getting the cars here from China and the focus of SIAC is very much on their the home market. The MG 3 looks good, but without some rework to suit UK tastes it will be a flop over here. The China versions of the 3 are bland, handle pooly and the engines are harsh (based on what I have read). As far as I know, the re engineering (and styling tweaks) for the UK are in process at Longbridge now. If UK assembly is also planned (unlikely for this model I expect) then that has to be made ready as well. Remember only the old TF line and the revised 75 line now used for the 6 remain at Longbridge, everything else was stripped out by Nanging so assembly of other models in the UK will require significant investment. If UK spec versions of the 3 are to be here by the end of 2012 then MG have alot to do - not least convincing SIAC there is a case for them to come here at all given the slow start to sales of the 6...