Chinese Healeys

[Patton]

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From https://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/06/12/afx3813254.html

AFX News Limited
Nanjing agrees partnership on Healey and Austin Healey brands
06.12.07, 2:07 PM ET


LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The Chinese owner of the rump of bankrupt British car giant MG Rover said it has done a deal paving the way for the revival of one of the UK's most famous car brands.

Nanjing Automobile Corp (NAC) said it had reached an agreement with Healey Automobile Consultants Ltd and HFI Automotive Ltd to collaborate on the future development of the Healey and Austin Healey brands and sports cars bearing their name.

Nanjing said in a statement that the deal ends long-standing issues about ownership of the brands and trade marks and expands opportunities for joint trade between the companies.

NAC is the Chinese parent company of Nanjing Automobile Corporation (UK) Ltd, which acquired the assets of MG Rover in July 2005.

It makes and sells cars worldwide and recently restarted production of the MG TF sports car at the former Rover plant at Longbridge in Birmingham.

Nanjing said last year that it may bring back the Austin marque for a range of new cars to be designed at Longbridge.

HFI is the automotive partner of HAC, which owns the Healey brand.
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philip.waller@thomson.com

 

[Keoke]

Very interesting Patton. Guess they might be making Jaguars next as Fiat did not want to buy it from ford.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonod.gif

 

[AndrewMawson]

I believe that the Healey marque actually belongs still to the Healey family, so they could produce something badged Austin, but not Austin Healey.

 

[john_j]

I believe that the Healey marque actually belongs still to the Healey family, so they could produce something badged Austin, but not Austin Healey.

That was true, but HFI paid the family* for ownership or use of the name last year.

*presumably they can still call themselves Healey, not @#~, the family formerly known as Healey ;-)

 

[Patton]

Nanjing has the rights to both Austin (as part of the Rover purchase) and Healey now. Healey Automobile Consultants Ltd was Geoff's company that HFI partnered with for the car announced last year.

They have recently reopened the Longbridge plant to build MG's. So maybe they are planning some badge engineering.

 

[Dave Richards]

That's the same thing another group announced last year and started taking deposits on! Great, how are we gonna get our deposits back??? I'll look for the link...


Yea, here you go, it hasn't changed since the beginning of 2006, I quess our deposits are safe: https://www.hfiautomotive.com/press.html