Longbridge 'could resume in May'

Mr Whitby said the comments are from the 'highest political level'

Car manufacturing at Longbridge, the former home of MG Rover, could resume in late May, according to Birmingham City Council's leader.

Its Chinese owner Nanjing Automobile has said production is to restart at the plant, which has been inactive since Rover's collapse in 2005.

Council leader Mike Whitby said he had spoken to a senior politician from the third most powerful province in China.

He said he had cemented the importance Nanjing placed in foreign production.

'Crucial catalyst'

Meanwhile, the MG 7, which was based on the old Rover 75 model, and was snapped up by Nanjing when Rover collapsed, is due to start being produced in China this week.

Mr Whitby said it was implied that car making could start again at Longbridge in late May during his discussion with the Communist Party politician.

He said: "They see the relationship with Nanjing Automotive Company and the success of its Longbridge branch as being the most crucial example to future Chinese Birmingham bilateral economic relations.

"He made another point - Chinese people as they prosper do not actually look at cars made in China.

"But they look at what Europeans drive and so the Longbridge Nanjing Automotive Company and their sales will actually help the Nanjing production in China.

"So Longbridge is a crucial catalyst to them."

Longbridge is the European headquarters of Nanjing Automotive Company.