BBC News | TALKING POINT | Is there a future for Rover?

There is a good future for Rover. The answer to the problems the company has had seems to be in doing a good job marketing the fine line of automobiles made. This was a problem with BMW. Although, BMW makes and excellent car, - they were not the best company to represent Rover.
It is likely that Rover will be bought out by an American company. That would be to the advantage of 'Rover' and those who are employed in England who make automobiles of this excellent company. 'Rover' will definitely survive. Of course, the world economy is changing and it may be several years; but, I expect Rover to be back and stronger than ever.
Dave Adams, USA

Why is it the unions at Longbridge feel BMW and the government owe them a living?

R Harris, UK

I am at a complete loss to understand the support that the government provides for service and financial sector businesses, whilst turning it's back on traditional manufacturing industry.
Iain Pendry, UK

When a business is a losing proposition, it has to be dismantled. But I do hope that the brand will survive since Rover is apt proof that reliable and stylish cars do not have to cost an arm and a leg. I am a big fan of Rovers, and in my hometown half the people had Rovers, the other half split between Mercedes and BMW. Now, the last two are great cars, but Rovers were still the most beautiful! I wish we won't lose them...
Ulysses Christodoulou, USA

The Rover brand died about 25 years ago, its amazing that the pretence has gone on for so long, and more so that BMW were so badly advised concerning the moribund state of their patient.
Le Seelleur, England

First of all, BMW was losing $2million a day at Longbridge, keeping Rover was threatening the future of the whole of BMW, not just Rover itself. Secondly, the new Rover 75 is good, but that's all, while the new 25 has nothing that the others don't and is missing plenty that they do have. Finally, I agree with Alchemy (its what BMW should have done). Abandon the Rover brand name and make MGs. That marque will sell, and sadly only as many as Lotuses - but it could be a popular marque. As for the sale of Land Rover, BMW have their own 4x4 now and don't need it. I'm sorry for those who are going to lose their jobs, but unless BMW had got rid of Rover it would have gone bankrupt or been bought out by Ford (something which was whispered over the last few months). That would have meant even more job losses than we're faced with now, and across the whole group, not just Rover. Its very sad, but ultimately better that BMW did it now than nothing at all...
Michael Amherst, UK

If the strong pound and non-entry into the euro club are such handicaps to manufacture in the UK, how is it that Toyota, Nissan and Mazda - not to mention Ford and Vauxhall - seem to manage without grievous losses? The fact is that BMW shot Rover in the foot. They did it in the same way as British Leyland before them. They slashed their dealer network. By the time the brilliant Rover 75 appeared, too much damage had been done. With no showrooms within easy reach, the only way most potential buyers were likely to see a 75 is on billboards. And the TV advertising campaigns have been consistently among the least confidence-inspiring I can remember. The failure of Rover under BMW ownership was above all a failure to use imagination and common sense. There can be no excuse.
Barry Weedon, England

Why is it the unions at Longbridge feel BMW and the government owe them a living? If a product is not making a profit then why should it be kept going? If the unions went on any basic course in economics then they'd realise a few things! BMW are in this for the profit like any firm should be. Government intervention only leads to failure. As soon as governments realise that they should not get involved then sooner the whole world can benefit from proper economics (which isn't what your average union would have you believe).
R Harris, UK

Those people that hold the view of that modern Rovers are not up to standards of BMW or Volkswagen. How could they be? Rover is hardly a large corporation on the same par as any of the larger companies. And German reliability is a myth according to a recent article in a leading car magazine. There are many pleased Rover car owners out there .I hope Alchemy please many more with their management of MG cars.
Chris Truby, UK

So Tony is angry and the trade secretary wants compensation for the West Midlands... or else what ? Look Stephen and Tony what are you going to do... cry, set Mandy on BMW. Face it there is nothing you can do to BMW and they know it - You'll be lucky to get an adventure playground.
Alec, UK

The British problem! We do not or cannot produce the goods the British public want. The motor cycle industry, the truck industry are two examples we have failed to learn from. Ask Eddie Stobart, the UK's biggest haulage contractor why he buys Volvo, Scania, MAN trucks, and when he answers the question act upon it.
Peter Cross, UK

BMW have dumped on us from a great height. Morale could not get any lower than it is now, and we'd all just like to publicly thank the government for their support and help in this sad and depressing situation.... NOT.
Worker at Longbridge, England

I'd rather push my Land Rover than buy a Ford.

Mark Laxon, UK

I nearly bought a new BMW last year, but instead opted for a Land Rover. Why? Because in my experience BMW judge customers on face value rather than hard-earned cash.
Personally although I have driven German cars for 10 years, I will now not even consider BMW after the promises they made and broke. I wish Alchemy and Rover the best of luck - no guarantee it'll work but "trying" is better than leaving Rover to rot. And by the way - now Ford have their hands on Land Rover - I'd rather push my Land Rover than buy a Ford.
Mark Laxon, UK

I don't get it: first the government say they want to cut the number of cars on the roads, then they scream blue murder when BMW close car plants and stop producing cars. Why don't the Rover group start building buses (or is it the case that nobody would buy those either)?
Steve Wehrle, UK

Workers have to realise that a production line is as fast as its slowest section and till they do they won't succeed. Attitudes in part of the car industry haven't changed since the fifties.
Thomas Barton, UK

The majority of the blame for the problems at Rover must lie with British people.

Disappointed, England

I can't believe the postings here. Since the early 90s Rover have produced cars of the utmost quality, both in design and technical reliability. The problem is a combination of the British not buying into their own, and managerial mishandling primarily by British Aerospace - Selling the company to BMW and not increasing the relationship with Honda!! What were they thinking?
However, the majority of the blame for the problems at Rover must lie with British people. You can't tell me that a Ford, or Vauxhall is any better "Quality", or a BMW or VW is any better Value for money, than a late 90s Rover.
Disappointed, England

The name Rover has brought potentially good cars down. At least there is a chance now for those and better cars to survive and be made in Britain employing British people. I just think it's a shame that the Mini will not be part of that group, and its long attachment to Birmingham will disappear.
Fiona, UK

It does seem that BMW have got it right. I have gone past Longbridge and I have to say it is like something in the dark ages. It is hemmed in all sides and has absolutely no room to expand. The workforce there have proved in the past very resistant to change. It would only be a massive change and automation at the plant that production levels would increase and the plant achieve a high level of efficiency that is demanded in today's market.
I am very surprised however that Land Rover is being sold as that area was the most profitable area of the Rover Group. Still, it shows that Cowley in Oxfordshire is worth keeping where there has been change initiated.
Stephen R Poole, UK

I don't understand the problem...lastminute.com employ 20 people and lost �24 million last year (just over 1 million per head) yet are estimated to be worth 590 million and are currently the hottest investment in the country, on this criteria, Rover must be in very good shape - employing 50,000 and only lost 720 million...I think I'll call my stockbroker!
Tim Jones, UK

As a Rover owner and also working in Birmingham I have seen over the past day the morale of the region hit an all time low.

NT, UK

Apparently Rover's are naff and rubbish cars! Unfortunately there is no evidence to back up these so called claims. Actually, quite the opposite can be said of Rover cars. I am not denying that Rover have an image problem and that the cars that they produce do not stir the imagination. However to have a go at the workmanship is totally unjustifiable. Rovers are known for being reliable and well built cars rather than 'pulse-racing' cars.
As a Rover owner and also working in Birmingham I have seen over the past day the morale of the region hit an all time low. Surely, with guidance and a bit more flair the Rover (or MG) can live on.
NT, UK

Rover's demise is probably overdue. Their products in recent years have been unexciting and of dubious quality. I can only hope that the sale of Land Rover to Ford will bring about some improvement there. However I won't hold my breath - my second Discovery, built during the BMW era, is exhibiting all the build quality traits which plagued an earlier "British" model.
Graham Woodier, UK

The suggestion by the Head of BMW that the UK policy on the Euro is to blame for their inability to sell dreadful Rover cars is an insult to anyone's intelligence. The Euro has had no impact here and even if we were to go in does he seriously think that his government would let the UK in at a competitive rate? Do me a favour!
Stewart Geddes, UK

The Government should stop pouring money into no-profitable companies and concentrate on Education and the NHS. Sort it out Alchemy and sort it out quick...
Jeremy Green, S. Wales, UK

Marketing and Branding is the real reason for Rover's downfall.

Neil Cooke, UK

Marketing and Branding is the real reason for Rover's downfall - Rover car's build quality and reliability in the last few years is on par with most other makes, if not better.
This is not entirely BMW's fault. The attitude of the British public in buying non-UK manufactured cars contributed to Rover's death. We should look nearer to home for the reason behind Rover's downfall rather than to Bavaria - we failed to buy the cars we were paid to produce.
Neil Cooke, UK

Even the quality of the premier Land Rover is not good but they are saved by great design. The fact is that pride in one's work in many areas of UK manufacturing is dead. Couple that with a strong pound, business illiterate unions and non-existent brand image and you can see why Rover needs to be put down. One can only hope that MG Motors can go on to have the success of the re-born Triumph Motorcycles.
Andrew Day, UK

Abomination!! BMW Buy cheap and then sell off Land/Range Rover at a huge profit. To blame the Euro is very poor. Are there no clauses that could be used - BMW failed to do anything with Rover in such a short space of time
Sarah, UK

I don't believe that it's too late to re-create the classic quality name of Rover/MG.

Stephen Miller, Sweden & UK

I agree with some of the comments made, for example re-branding the Metro as the Rover 100 was a disaster. However, I don't believe that it's too late to re-create the classic quality name of Rover/MG.
I do agree that the workers/unions need to get their acts together and support management in promoting quality brand image. A quality name can soon be made/lost as with Saab in Sweden. I had a Saab a couple of years ago and it's guts/bodywork were gone within 3 years, that memory will take some time to disappear. So an impressive quality business car is needed.
Stephen Miller, Sweden & UK

Have all these people rubbishing Rovers actually driven one recently? It's the old strange British habit of knocking ourselves down. People should get out and drive the cars rather than buying based on what the adverts say! Good luck Alchemy, only by building a successful company (which they have a record of doing) can the jobs be re-created.
Jeremy Cogman, GB

Now seems the ideal opportunity for somebody to develop the MG brand into a small niche market player. Good luck to 'Alchemy' and all who find employment at the NEW Longbridge facility. With the major car makers having all but divided up the big sellers between themselves I think there is room for another good quality niche car manufacturer. I also think that all modern cars need an injection of style, individuality and dynamic ability before they will capture my interest again.
Justin Gardner, Longbridge, B'Ham, UK

Any patriotic feelings I may have had about owning a British car have long gone.

Peter Finch, UK

Having owned a Rover for nearly three years, the gloss has worn off and I have a car that I now realise is poorly designed, engineered and built, and is worth a fraction of its original value (a realisation I guess I share with BMW) - but, above all it's a Rover! Any patriotic feelings I may have had about owning a British car have long gone.
Peter Finch, UK

I think it was a myth to think that Rover could survive in the rapidly consolidating world car market. Selling the firm to venture capitalists at least ensures some of the Rover workers keep their jobs. Rover seems to have tried being a mass market high quality car company without the scale and high quality. The decision to keep Longbridge back to the British is an excellent decision and is safer than selling it to a large car company like GM. Good luck Rover
Tim Smith, UK

As sad as the decline or the British motor industry is, there is no profit in such sentimentality when it comes to this cut-throat manufacturing sector. Incompetent management breeds strong unions, who incite workers to unrealistic expectations; a classic British industrial horror story ... hopefully, the last one.
Mark M. Newdick, USA/UK

Rover's demise has been largely brought about because of its staid image. Other manufacturers such as BMW & Audi have had high performance versions of their models helping to promote a more dynamic image. If TVR can develop performance engines on a minuscule budget - why not Rover? Gone are the days when you could buy a Rover with serious performance. It is a myth that a few bits of poor quality timber glued to the dash will make the car 'upmarket' - customers compare the build quality of the Rover to an Audi and the difference is obvious.

The plans to concentrate in the MG brand may work, but only if the performance and build quality is improved such that they at least match that of the opposition. To ensure survival, they need to produce a car that is top of its class; on Rover's past attempts I cannot see this happening.
Jack Haywood, Great Britain

There is absolutely no point heaping blame solely on ineffective management. The element that has probably had the most actively destructive effect is the unions. A quarter of a century ago they thought they could almost rule the country and now they, or rather their unfortunate members are reaping the rewards for unions entrenching themselves in costly industrial disputes and persistently threatening industrial action if the pay packets and working conditions were not to their liking. This has left Rover as a dead duck with high labour costs and not single chance of recovery if the unions remain embedded in Rover's image - who would want to buy and sustain such a company in today's world?
James Denning, UK

I believe that giving Rover back to Britain is generally a good thing. I am sure that many customers lost faith with the company that was the only large remaining British car producer when it was sold to a German company. To make the company a truly British brand again can only be a good thing. The use of the MG Cars brand name, I think, is a good move. I hope that the new company will give Britain back the high quality, successful car company that it deserves. The fact that BMW has retained Land Rover and the Mini makes me believe that this was always their true intention for the Rover Group.
Ben Blower, UK

Yes, this probably is the end of the road for Rover. First tax payers' money is used, then 18 years of Conservative free market and we still cannot make cars efficiently. Why? In the past perhaps the unions, but more recently incompetent management coupled with an inadequately educated and trained workforce. Now working in Germany I notice the difference in that the managers here have usually had to gain qualifications, whereas in Britain this is far from always the case. We cannot expect BMW to subsidise all this, we have had long enough to do something about it.
Ken Beach, Germany

Badly paid, not appreciated and fed up with ignorant comments like those I have just read on your page, I left my job as a designer at Rover in 1981.Since then I have worked freelance in Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Germany and Austria. In Europe engineers are not only better paid but also respected professionals and British automotive engineers are respected by their European colleagues. British companies have just as good engineers as their world-wide competitors and the people on the shop floor are equal to any in the world. The main problem with Rover is a history of under investment including those infamous 70's when the government of the day LENT funds to British Leyland not gave and the amounts where never enough. The public does not understand the vast amounts of money it takes to develop one vehicle. It costs over $1 billion to design, develop and produce just one car let alone a range. The VW group and PSA are financially supported by their respective governments and in return are paid back in taxes etc. If the government does not step in, it will have to pay out benefits to tens of thousands and not just to those directly employed in the car industry but also to the service industries who deal with them. BMW bought Rover very cheaply, they where not allowed to buy only profitable Land Rover. They make a weak effort to make it more efficient and then say "We tried". Along comes some company that has no automotive background buys the unprofitable side and within 2 years closes it down. BMW says "Nothing to do with us!" and walks away with clean hands. How convenient!
John Williams, UK (working in Belgium)

Whilst I cannot comment first hand on the quality of Rover motorcars (I am a cyclist myself, Raleigh of course), it sounds like another sad chapter in the dismal decline of British made products. British made goods have a world-wide reputation for quality and enduring value yet try finding them overseas. I remember when Roots Group were everywhere in the USA, now the only British marquee is the Jaguar. Americans LOVE anything British yet British Leyland withdrew the tremendously popular MG from the North American market. May I suggest the problem lies not in design or product as much as MARKETING. A lot of American made stuff is rubbish compared to British, but the one thing we Americans can do is "talk the talk" and move the goods irrespective of quality.
Peter C. Kohler, USA

We bought a Rover Metro a few years ago, biggest mistake. They just cannot compete with quality competitors.
Dan Evans, UK

Rover has the worst management possible. Overpriced, unreliable, targeted to the wrong market. I mean, what were they trying to do with the 75 ? Compete with Mercedes and BMW ?! Please....
Manos Theocharopoulos, UK

The unions came into being to fight for decent working conditions, a battle which in the West is largely won. Instead of reforming into organisations which were useful to the majority of workers, they retreated into defending laziness and incompetence, so that they could continue their battle with the bosses on principle, whether there was any need for it or not. Naturally the results of this are steadily declining union membership, and the death of industries, such as Rover and many others in the UK, where the unions are too influential, and laziness flourishes. I used to work as an electrician on a mine site, and I know first hand that the unions do nothing but collect our membership fees, and in return use them to protect loafers, and fight "battles" for stupid things like billiard tables in the lunch room. Is it any wonder we can't compete with the labour forces in the East?!
Alex Chiang, Australia

When BMW bought Rover I thought they should immediately dump everything but the Range Rover products. Why did they take so long and lose so much money!
Barrie Murray-Upton, UK

It is a shame that BMW has not made more of the Rover name. Rover was once a manufacturer of classy well built cars. Being a fan myself, I believe BMW should have made them into a range of high profit, low turnover cars a bit like Jaguar. This could have worked and quite a bit of money could have been made with this strategy. Then again BMW didn't do this because it would have detracted from their range of cars. Much much more could have been done. BMW technology with Rover class.
James Copp-Taylor, England

The formation of the MG Car Company is actually good news. BMW failed to take sufficient control of the Rover group; hopefully Alchemy Partners will not repeat the mistake. There is no doubt that the future repositioning of the group will cause great concern to the Trade Unions, but there is a price to be paid to ensure the sustained survival of UK car manufacturing.
R. Webb, UK

BMW failed to take sufficient control of the Rover group; hopefully Alchemy Partners will not repeat the mistake.

R Webb, UK

If the government actually wanted people to buy the cars that are being built, they wouldn't make the cost of running them so impossibly high. Stop blaming the car companies for the job losses, blame the government. the only people who will be able to run cars in the future will be MP's, with our tax money.
Billy Jenkins, Scotland

Rover have been cutting costs and corners for years in an attempt to bolster their figures. Quality has become a secondary consideration and it is obvious. Since the BMW deal things have improved and the new models look better but the stigma remains. I still wouldn't touch a Rover when competitors such as VW, Honda etc are producing cars to such a high standard, and I don't think anybody else would either.
Keith, I.o.M

Rover no longer continue to produce rubbish cars - the problem is that the public do not perceive this. The 75 is actually a very good car (made at Cowley incidentally, one of the bits BMW want to keep). However, Longbridge has consistently produced poor cars such as the Maestro, Montego, Allegro, 800 etc. with a low ratio of cars per employee. Whether, re-branded or not, Rover can survive is highly debatable and this present uncertainty will hasten it's death if it lasts much longer.
Peter Gallant, UK

The British Government couldn't make Austin Rover profitable British Aerospace couldn't make it work either All BMW is guilty of is cherry picking. Rover should be allowed to die peacefully in its sleep without the British Government refusing to pull the life support plug.
SJH, England

Rover should be allowed to die peacefully in its sleep without the British Government refusing to pull the life support plug

SJH, England

I am a Rover Car owner and the detractors of the company usually have never driven them and know nothing about them. As for out-dated did you know the Rover K series engine powers not only the MGF but the Lotus Elise and Caterham 7 ? I've had a 620 for several years and it has never given me any trouble at all. I would like to have got my hands on a 75, which is an exquisite piece of engineering and design. BMW had five years to get their act together and they failed, not the Rover workers. When was the last time Rover workers striked ? Compare that to Ford Dagenham. Productivity is only bad at Longbridge only due to BMW's own intransigence on investment. Personally, I wish they'd been taken over by Honda when they were sold by British Aerospace.
Mike Thomas, UK

As a Rover driver and having owned 4 in total (including MGF) I can only say that Rover have only themselves to blame. Not only is the build quality appalling when compared to the likes of VW but the lifetime costs always come back higher too. It almost recovered a few years ago but has dropped again and I think it's time we gave up. Perhaps a chance for a new British Car company to be born?
Simon, UK

There's no future for Rover now (sadly considering how good the Rover 75 is)

Marque R, UK

It is hard to believe that BMW has owned Rover for so long, and only recently tightened its grip on its "problem child". BMW should have acted in 1994/5, not January 2000. There's no future for Rover now (sadly considering how good the 75 is) but MG is a marque to nurture. I fear for the livelihoods of many of my former colleagues who tried so so hard - only to be rewarded with this.
Marque R, UK

Let's face it, Rover is a lemon and its cars have been lemons for years. Who would actually take pride in owning one. The 25 is good looking but it screams geriatric. As for the 75, Yuk! Consign Rover to the history books where it should have been for the last two decades.
Chaun, UK

It comes down to a harsh choice between our taxes being used to bail Rover out again, or being used to pay unemployment benefit. In a world where efficiency and quality are king, it may do us good as a nation to wake up and realise that our manufacturing sector is years behind. Although this is of cold comfort to Rover employees.
Paul, UK

BMW made no effort to portray the company, and its products in a positive light.

Alastair Knight, United Kingdom

Rover appeared to be making steady progress during the period when it had a joint venture with Honda under British Aerospace ownership. BMW should take a large part of the blame for allowing market share to fall from 15% to 6% of the UK market. BMW made no effort to portray the company, and its products in a positive light. I myself have a Rover 216, and find it well made and stylish.
Alastair Knight, United Kingdom

It was only a matter of time before the manufacturer that brought us the Allegro, Ital, Maestro and Rover 800 fell to the wayside. Car manufacturers in general will all feel the power of the consumer as the car pricing debate hots up and more consumers turn to the internet to buy their cars in Europe.
Mark, UK

Rover's past has been a tough one, it has made many mistakes and has had many different owners. The truth is however, British business and the public do not understand the strength in depth of the designers at Rover. In the 75, Rover has moved the goalposts (set by the terrible 800) and produced a car almost as good as a pricier BMW (as stated by BBC's Top Gear), another example is that of the MGF which was developed in its early days from the suspension system of the Metro, and has proven to be a good selling car.
What Rover has not had, is a clear marketing strategy truly aimed at getting people interested in its cars.
Soames Inscker, UK

If they can't sell cars at a profit then we'd be better spending the money on something more useful.

Mike Holmes, Scotland

The government persists in wasting taxpayer's money by donating hundreds of millions of Pounds to loss-making car companies. If they can't sell cars at a profit then we'd be better spending the money on something more useful and freeing up the workers to make something which contributes to rather than drags down the British economy. The government should show some leadership and understanding of economics and stay out of it.
Mike Holmes, Scotland

Sadly Rover has no one to blame but itself. Here are some reasons:

* Idiot managers - the Rover 25 (nee 200) was originally targeted at the Golf, Escort end of the market, instead of the fiesta end where in belongs!?!
* Insane marketing men who tried to sell Rovers on the basis of Britishness i.e. tweed jacket, cloth cap and pipe, and they wonder why young people don't buy their cars. The 75 is a prime example nice enough looking car but the inside is like an old manor house?!?
* Design by committee- no revolutionary ideas - if design work had been done like this in the 50's the mini would never of have graced our roads.
* Lastly the majority of workers had no pride in what they did. My father who used to work for Rover/BL etc... would often recount stories of how he would have to repair poor quality work as he was one of the few who could do a proper job (sadly for Rover these workers are now mostly retired).
A Smyth, UK

Had Britain joined the Euro at about DM 2,60, the Rover crisis might have been avoided.

Dr J. Insley, Germany

The end of Rover. Make no mistake, this is the end. The high pound has probably more to answer for than the quality of the cars. Eurosceptics had better think about this. Had Britain joined the Euro at about DM 2,60, the Rover crisis might have been avoided, but it didn't and it probably won't join the Euro at all. And Rover? Another of the lost causes of motoring history.
Dr J. Insley, Germany

Is there not a sense of irony that in the week that the Government announces a �530m loan to BAE Systems, Rover is in the news, given that a few years ago the former British Aerospace sold Rover at a tidy profit to BMW having turned down what could have been a better long-term offer from Honda?
Andy Foster, UK

The structure within Rover is horrendous, the communication between Rover and it's suppliers is even worse. No wonder Rover can't survive if nobody knows what each others doing!
Suzanne Hendry, UK

I would welcome VW participation in the management of Rover further down the line.

Stephen Beat, Scotland

Contrary to the view held by some, Rover don't produce "naff" cars...sadly though the company's image is very unfashionable. The new Rover 25 is easily as good a car as the new VW Golf (although perhaps a little under powered), but the is simply a vast gulf between them in terms of street credibility.
If the rumours are to be believed I would welcome VW participation in the management of Rover further down the line. Hopefully they can do the same with Rover as they have done with that other 'naff' make - Skoda.
Stephen Beat, Scotland

I called in at our local Rover dealer the other week to look at the Rover 25. After sitting in the car in the showroom, the salesman said "what do you think?" When I told him I didn't like the driving position, his response was "Well everyone else thinks is OK" and walked away. It's not just Rover - Twenty five years of car ownership have taught me that their dealers are a disgrace and haven't changed their attitude since BL days.
John Moore, UK

Got to feel sorry for BMW: buying Rover might have made some sense on paper and politically, but they should have realised what they were buying was a disaster zone, and it WOULD drag them down.
And please no more complaining from the Unions: if they really care about the British car industry why have they been, and continue to be, the main cause of its destruction. I too would like a guaranteed job for life no matter how incompetent I am, but I suspect the taxpayers won't pay for it for me, so why should they for you?
David James, UK

To be fair they have tried very hard over the last couple of years to improve their image.

Adrian Morris, UK

I do not agree that Rover Cars are quite as bad as they used to be! Yes they were rubbish, but to be fair they have tried very hard over the last couple of years to improve their image.
It is not true to say they are always going to be rubbish, just look at Skoda for example... a few years ago wouldn't touch one with a barge pole... but now VW has taken charge they are much more appealing. I do not feel that BMW have tried hard enough to improve Rover's reputation... not as hard as VW did with Skoda. It is more likely that they only wanted to acquire the profitable sectors from day one.
Adrian Morris, UK

I am amazed by the fact that this announcement has come as a surprise. Surely people could see that BMW bought Rover because of the gap in its portfolio (4x4 and the city car markets) that would neatly be plugged by both the Mini and by Landrover? It was only a matter of time for them to discard the rest
MPH, UK

I would never drive a Rover, and I despair when I get stuck in traffic behind one.

Jenni, UK

I would never drive a Rover, and I despair when I get stuck in traffic behind one (do Metro's go at over 45mph?) and loathe travelling as a passenger. My brother's brand new car broke down three times in 10 days, once at 2am on a dark country road miles from anywhere.
However, I refuse to believe that everyone is all bad and my sympathies go out to those at the plant who do care about their work and their firm; to the innocent families of all those concerned; and to the local community whose livelihoods will also suffer.
It's no good believing in a 'job for life' now and it's not up to the Government to spend more of our money bribing BMW or propping up a failing industry - BL was sold off to make it stand on its own two feet and it has obviously failed.
Jenni, UK

Don't let Rover die. Their problems could easily be solved by doing two things differently to start with.

1) Get rid of the militant unions in there factories that believe the company is run for their benefit, and not the for the shareholders benefit.
2) Put all workers on an incentive scheme to increase productivity and if productivity drops, a penalty scheme. Then re-price the range aggressively like Daewoo and Mitsubishi have. This should help boost flagging sales. A Rover 25 for �2k less than present list price is a good car. At current list price it is swamped by Ford/Renault/Toyota/Renault/etc.
Tim G, UK

Long live Rover - let's hope someone with some responsibility buys the company.

Neil Sturgess, UK

I have bought Rover group cars for almost twenty years and have seen massive improvements as time passed. My present car was bought in 1993 and has only let me down on two occasions when it had battery problems. The partnership with Honda worked wonders and the cars produced were first-class. The sales figures proved that. BMW were never interested in Rover, they just wanted the Range Rover lines. So they have let the Rover lines deteriorate.
Rover has an image problem in the UK, largely a result of the disputes in the 70s, but the cars have moved on since then. I would not swap my car for any other brand as I do not consider any other to match the styling, but I would hesitate to buy a post-1994 model due to the BMW influence. Long live Rover - let's hope someone with some responsibility buys the company.
Neil Sturgess, UK

10 years ago I would have wanted Rover to be saved. Now I think that it's better off buried.

SJM, UK

Rover were daft to split with Honda a few years back as they finally seemed to be getting the hang of putting out some decent motors. The BMW take-over fooled many into thinking that the same quality, robust whilst cutting edge design and workmanship would filter through into Rover's ageing fleet but what did they produce? - the ugly and overpriced 25, 45 and 75. 10 years ago I would have wanted Rover to be saved. Now I think that it's better off buried.
SJM, UK

I can not understand why the growing concern, surely it was obvious that BMW only ever wanted the profit making part of the organisation.
B Williams, England

All the nasty stuff that is written about Rover recently - but have you actually driven any of the new one's? I think you would be surprised - I was.
Mark King, UK

Rover is still suffering from previously being British Leyland. A company renowned for endless industrial action, shoddy workmanship and such "classic" models as the Allegro, Marina and Princess.
Adrian, UK

Better to be constructive and think how we can turn Rover around.

John Carnie, UK

So one of your contributors wants a quick death for Rover! Try telling that to the people who depend on Rover for their living.
Better to be constructive and think how we can turn Rover around. With the 25, 45 and 75 - what's left after BMW cut and run - they have a line-up that can challenge other volume car-makers - if only the UK press would for the sake of a "smart" comment look at Rover sensibly (Jeremy Clarkson et al please take note!!)
John Carnie, UK

The British love to hate Rover. When Rover goes down, they'll look to blame someone other than themselves. Ultimately it will down to the image of the car maker that the British love to hate. No amount of advertising money will stop the British from doing what they do best. Complaining. If Rover is sold off, rename it to ABC or something. Create a marketing department.
Neil Henshall, Australia, living in UK

There are several car makers - Rover, Toyota, the Korean car companies - who have lost the plot and really don't do anything worthwhile or interesting. Sentiment or nationalistic feelings alone are not sufficient justification for keeping them going.
Dan Holmes, UK

I think it was a mistake for Rover to end its association with Honda. The problem here has always been the quality of your cars, renaming under the Sterling badge didn't work either. You put out a excellent car back in the 60's and 70's, then withdrew from the American market because of environmental and safety concerns, which today is rubbish.
I suggest that Rover rethink its marketing strategy, and also make the new Mini and MG models available here as well, after all the VW Beetle is back.
Tom Galluzzo, USA

A quick death, please, with no government attempts to prop it up as they did with British Leyland in the 70s.

Pete Morgan-Lucas, UK

Let's face it - nobody wants to buy the mainstream cars that Rover produces - the only really profitable bit is the Land-Rover division. The Rover" brand was irretrievably damaged when it got tacked on to lacklustre products like the Metro. Coupled with the appallingly-low productivity of Rover manufacturing plants, the only way is down. A quick death, please, with no government attempts to prop it up as they did with British Leyland in the 70s.
Pete Morgan-Lucas, UK

Look at a queue of cars at a queue of cars at the lights. How many are post-1994 Rovers? Probably none. That's because they are rubbish and the British public won't buy them. That is why BMW must protect its group assets and dispose of Rover now.
R Johnnie, Dutch living in UK

I bought a new Montego sedan in 1990. It begun rusting after 6 months After 3 years, and more rust, I wrote to Rover France offering to trade my rusted sedan against a new estate under the condition that they offered me the standard used car price for my car which was in a perfect mechanical state and hadn't had the slightest bodywork damage (apart from rust for which I didn't have any responsibility).
They never answered, they even didn't acknowledge that they had received my letter. I must say that gave the car away last year after it having covered 216,000 km (134,245 miles). Isn't that a bit of an image problem?
Ludovic FOIGNE, Luxembourg, formerly France

Despite massive investment of both BMW's and British taxpayers money, Rover still produce rubbish cars.

Mark Verth, UK

Rover produced rubbish cars in a factory staffed by worker not interested in the quality of their work, overseen by unions who spent most of their time in dispute with the management. Despite massive investment of both BMW's and British taxpayers money, Rover still produce rubbish cars in a factory staffed by worker not interested in the quality of their work, overseen by unions who spent most of thei their time in dispute with the management.
BMW are right to get rid of this part of their business now, before its continued losses threaten the financial security of the whole company. Until the British worker realises that there are people out there who can produce better, cheaper, without continual bickering with the management, this will be the fate of British industry.
Mark Verth, UK

Rovers are naff cars, always have been, always will be.
WGS, UK

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