The sad truth is that the chinese werent stupid, they knew that without new products being made, (constantly trying to update something that is too old and unrefined i.e. like the mini, like the metro, like many of models) that rover would'nt survive for much longer and they could just pull out of discussions and wait until they could buy what was left of the company for mickey mouse money!
This is why critical industries should not be sold to foreign companies. If MG Rover had never been sold to BMW, it'd still be around. Meanwhile, politicians getting payoffs from foreign automakers gleefully open the gates for them to drain finances from their own countries. Globalization defined.
Rover's refusal to replace failed engines and blaming customers, while Ford took responsibility for the same problems with the same engines, esp. the KV6, obviously didn't help retain goodwill. Ultimately, I believe Rover's ongoing scrimping pennies where it really mattered brought about its demise, which existed before BMW's takeover. Remember the 800 revamp was constrained by wanting to retain some Mk1 panels, despite knowing the tooling was worn out and would need replacing anyway?
While I think there's evidence that BMW sabotaged that part of Rover that had competed directly with BMW in Europe when BMW bought Rover, while retaining key technologies and designs, and carving off profitable brands, there's also evidence that after BMW sold the company, Rover's practices and attitudes, not least saving pennies in manufacturing at the cost of quality, and customer service.
Put it this way. When BMW bought Rover it was making a hansome profit. They stuffed it up because they didn't understand the brand. All they wanted was the designes for a new small car (MINI) that Rover had started. They and a government that coudn't give a toss about engineering or manufacturing, so long as the precious City did well.
And took a lot more out. Don't forget that the massive losses announced for Rover at the time were really the development cost of the new Mini. Look who took that over?
@rover75eu B** put most of their money into Cowley, which they retained. And remember that they sold Land Rover to Ford for more than they paid for the entire Rover Group.
@rover75eu BMW ran away with a factory (Oxford) all of their ideas (Rover 25 and 45 replacement) most of the brands (MINI and Triumph), they made a new 4x4 with LR expertise (X5). BMW ruined Rover. They put money into the 75, that is all they did. Nothing else.
@Manwitharuinedface and they stole the mini name,still have nitemares about it- how could one of our greatest cars end up as a bmw..? incredilous, sickening ,bizarre. saw one th eother day with a union jack on the roof..? insulting
The UK is fucked, MGR is a symptom of that. Ever since the 60s, laziness, complacency and bad management has comtributed to it's downfall...
discocreator76 1 month ago
they should have taken it back into public ownership any other goverment in europe would have
si4106 4 months ago
The sad truth is that the chinese werent stupid, they knew that without new products being made, (constantly trying to update something that is too old and unrefined i.e. like the mini, like the metro, like many of models) that rover would'nt survive for much longer and they could just pull out of discussions and wait until they could buy what was left of the company for mickey mouse money!
Mr220393 7 months ago
John Towers conman.
LokiV 9 months ago
This is why critical industries should not be sold to foreign companies. If MG Rover had never been sold to BMW, it'd still be around. Meanwhile, politicians getting payoffs from foreign automakers gleefully open the gates for them to drain finances from their own countries. Globalization defined.
TJ347 1 year ago
Rover's refusal to replace failed engines and blaming customers, while Ford took responsibility for the same problems with the same engines, esp. the KV6, obviously didn't help retain goodwill. Ultimately, I believe Rover's ongoing scrimping pennies where it really mattered brought about its demise, which existed before BMW's takeover. Remember the 800 revamp was constrained by wanting to retain some Mk1 panels, despite knowing the tooling was worn out and would need replacing anyway?
frumzion 1 year ago
While I think there's evidence that BMW sabotaged that part of Rover that had competed directly with BMW in Europe when BMW bought Rover, while retaining key technologies and designs, and carving off profitable brands, there's also evidence that after BMW sold the company, Rover's practices and attitudes, not least saving pennies in manufacturing at the cost of quality, and customer service.
frumzion 1 year ago
i wish bmw had shut the joint paid us all off
mike99white99 2 years ago
Put it this way. When BMW bought Rover it was making a hansome profit. They stuffed it up because they didn't understand the brand. All they wanted was the designes for a new small car (MINI) that Rover had started. They and a government that coudn't give a toss about engineering or manufacturing, so long as the precious City did well.
simonburnley 2 years ago
they did their best but since bmw had rover the company was doomed
Manwitharuinedface 3 years ago
Don't forget that without BMW the Rover 75 wouldn't exist. They put lots of money into Rover...
rover75eu 2 years ago
And took a lot more out. Don't forget that the massive losses announced for Rover at the time were really the development cost of the new Mini. Look who took that over?
peteandshaz7733 2 years ago
@rover75eu B** put most of their money into Cowley, which they retained. And remember that they sold Land Rover to Ford for more than they paid for the entire Rover Group.
Seamaster73 11 months ago
@rover75eu BMW ran away with a factory (Oxford) all of their ideas (Rover 25 and 45 replacement) most of the brands (MINI and Triumph), they made a new 4x4 with LR expertise (X5). BMW ruined Rover. They put money into the 75, that is all they did. Nothing else.
darthlleyr 6 months ago
@Manwitharuinedface and they stole the mini name,still have nitemares about it- how could one of our greatest cars end up as a bmw..? incredilous, sickening ,bizarre. saw one th eother day with a union jack on the roof..? insulting
chefblanc 9 months ago
@Manwitharuinedface The company would have gone before if it wasnt for BMW, they were broke before BMW and had a crap model range....
discocreator76 6 months ago