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SAIC Opens Export-Focused Factory in China

SAIC Motor Corp. has launched production at its fourth assembly plant—a facility in Ningde, China—with capacity to make 240,000 vehicles per year.
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SAIC Motor Corp. has launched production at its fourth assembly plant—a facility in Ningde, China—with capacity to make 240,000 vehicles per year, Automotive News China reports.

The 5 billion-yuan ($700 million) factory is making a plug-in hybrid version of the MG HS compact crossover vehicle (pictured). SAIC says most of the output will be shipped to the U.K., the MG brand’s largest export market, and the rest of Europe.

SAIC acquired MG, an iconic British brand, in 2007.

The hybrid MG HS follows the all-electric MG EZ mini crossover, which debuted in the U.K. in July. SAIC already sells three other conventionally powered MG models in Britain: the MG3 supermini hatchback and ZS and GS small crossovers.

The new Ningde plant hikes SAIC’s annual capacity in China to 980,000 vehicles. ANC notes that the company also assembles MG models in Thailand and India.

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