Nanjing wants longer in Longbridge

Nanjing Automobile wants to extend its six-month licence from St Modwen to occupy part of the former MG Rover site in Longbridge, which expires on February 22.

St Modwen, the property developer, acquired the 403 acres of the Longbridge site in two transactions in 2003 and 2004 for £57.5m.

Nanjing still has not made a decision on whether it will restart production at the Longbridge site. It missed its own deadline to decide at the end of 2005, due to a lack of financial backing and a new management team.

GB Sports Cars is the best bet for a restart in production at the West Midlands plant. It signed a memorandum of understanding last year to revive the Austin Healey sports car brand.