Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) plans to appoint the UK’s first MG dealers this month. The company is remaining tight-lipped about their identities.

However Stephen Cox, NAC MG’s UK sales/ franchising manager, expects five dealers to have signed franchise contracts by the end of May.

NAC wants a contracted dealer network in place by September, ready for an autumn launch of its re-born MGTF roadster. Cox wouldn’t reveal how many sales points he wants, but says 96 franchise information packs have been sent out.

“A lot of interest has come from the old MG network but there’s been more from the outside,” Cox tells AM. “We’re more interested in the quality of dealers than numbers. We won’t fill locations with just anyone.”

He wants MG’s dealers treated equally and says all franchises will receive the same discounts and there will be no bonus structure.

Dealers will not receive monetary support for their marketing, although Cox says they will all benefit from Nanjing’s launch promotional activity.

Start-up costs are being kept low as Cox expects the MG franchise to be added to an existing franchise. The new corporate identity will be a subtle alteration of the old style under MG Rover in order to indicate the brand’s new ownership.