Six unnamed suppliers to MG Rover have shortened payment periods or were enforcing payment terms more strictly, reducing their exposure to the company, reports the FT.

However, none of the suppliers contacted were demanding cash upfront.

MG Rover offered no comment on the FT’s report. It and SAIC jointly wrote to suppliers recently to say the discussions on the much publicised deal were "well advanced" and promised more details in the coming weeks.

The FT says sources close to the negotiations between MG Rover and SAIC have indicated that the signing ceremony for the agreement could take place before the Shanghai Motor Show in mid-April.

Meanwhile, the current 45/MG ZS is being re-engineered for simultaneous production at Longbridge and Shanghai, and the Rover 75/MG ZT and Rover 25/ MG ZR models are to undergo further considerable style and engineering changes.

Both revisions are intended for launch by the first quarter of 2006 at the latest.