SAIC Motor in Birmingham and the West Midlands – History to Present
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, headquartered in Shanghai, is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers. It produces passenger cars, vans and electric vehicles under a range of brands including MG, Maxus (formerly LDV) and Roewe, as well as through major international joint ventures. Globally, SAIC employs well over 200,000 people, making it one of the largest automotive groups in the world.
Entry into the UK and the West Midlands
SAIC’s connection with the West Midlands began in the mid-2000s when it acquired the MG brand and key assets of MG Rover following the collapse of the historic British carmaker. This brought one of Britain’s most famous motoring names under Chinese ownership and secured a long-term Chinese automotive presence in Birmingham, centred on the former Longbridge plant.
Longbridge and Birmingham Operations
For many years after the takeover, Longbridge continued to play a role in MG’s future, first with limited vehicle assembly and later as a technical and quality-control hub for MG cars built in China for the European market. Although full car production at Longbridge ended in 2016, the site remained part of SAIC’s UK operations for inspection, testing and development work.
Alongside Longbridge, SAIC established the SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre in Birmingham. This facility became the company’s main European engineering base, employing hundreds of engineers, designers and technicians working on vehicle development, safety, design adaptation and future technologies for MG and other SAIC brands sold in Europe. This made Birmingham one of SAIC’s key research and development centres outside China.
Commercial Vehicles and the LDV/Maxus Link
SAIC also became the global owner of the former LDV van designs after the collapse of the Birmingham-based LDV Group in 2009. These vehicles were relaunched internationally under the Maxus brand, which is now sold across the UK and Europe. While vans are built in China, dealerships and service networks operate across the West Midlands, maintaining a commercial vehicle presence that traces its roots back to Washwood Heath and Birmingham’s long van-building tradition.
Employment and Present-Day Role
Today, SAIC no longer operates full vehicle manufacturing plants in the West Midlands, but its Birmingham engineering centre and UK headquarters continue to employ a substantial skilled workforce, supporting MG and Maxus vehicles sold across Europe. With over 200,000 employees worldwide, SAIC remains one of the most powerful automotive groups on the planet, and its investment has ensured that Birmingham and the West Midlands remain connected to global vehicle design, engineering and development, even after the end of mass car and van production.
Although the factories of Longbridge and Washwood Heath no longer build vehicles, their legacy lives on through SAIC’s MG and Maxus brands, which continue to draw on Birmingham’s engineering heritage while operating as part of a modern, international automotive group.
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