PORTO e COIMBRA
After some inconsequent announcements published in the specialized press, we saw the iconic MG brand return to Portugal, in June 2021, by the hand of the Gocial Group.
This Group is one of the oldest automotive distribution groups in Portugal and currently represents 15 brands through the JOP, Sporvap, Vap, Motorvap, Carvap, Soveco and Soveco Viseu concessions.
After phone contacts with Sílvia Neves, Secretary of the Group's Management, and with Ricardo Gonçalves, its Director, we ended up visiting the facilities of JOP MG Electric in Porto, on the 12th November. There we chatted with Paulo Pinto, the Head of Sales, and enjoyed the recently launched Marvel R.
From October 2022, MG Motor Portugal started to open dealerships in order to cover, practically, the whole continental territory.
MG PORTUGAL is a company of the SAIC Motor Group and the 7th largest car manufacturer in the world with annual sales of over 7 million units.
From these dealerships, it was Bomcar MG Motor that took the initiative to invite MGCP Members to visit their concessions in Coimbra and Leiria, on March 18th, in order to anticipate the celebration of Father's Day.
In Coimbra, it was not only Classic MG cars that attended because the meeting was promoted by the “Ingleses do Centro”. However, they constituted ¼ of those present in a rainy day that did not spoil the conviviality that Ricardo Porém accompanied, nor did it disturb the lunch that took place in a restaurant near the west entrance of the Ponte de Santa Clara, as informed by our Member Luís Cunha Matos to whom we thank for the photo reportage.
LEIRIA
At Bomcar in Leiria, with a showery weather, 10 Members attended with 7 MG vehicles. Paula, Marketing Manager, and Renato, who accompanied all the test-drives, were excellent hosts until the arrival of Luís Porém, Administrator of Bomcar Automóveis SA, which will complete 30 years of activity this year. It was clear that all the local Members were close to him and had known him for a long time. The tour ended around the table at Churrasqueira D. Duarte, which also has excellent facilities.
ALMADA
In this city, the MG Morgado & Amado dealer established the connection between the present and the past by putting on the wall a photo of its founder, Mr. Morgado, driving his MGA and the restored MGB of our member António Marques.
LISBOA
For Saturday, March 25th, a visit to the facilities of the 1st MGcar Lisboa store at the World Trade Center, in Carnaxide, was scheduled.
With a sunny day and located between Lisboa and "Linha de Cascais" it was relatively easy to mobilize some Members that with their Classics and Pre-Classics MG, greatly embellished the store's surroundings.
Upon arrival we were greeted by Pedro Gonçalves, the local CEO, who introduced us to Ricardo Lotra, the MG Motor representative for Portugal. Marina, the Administrative Assistant, and Filipe, the Sales Consultant, were the rest of the team that was attentive and satisfied the curiosity of the participants.
To all those we have visited and will visit in the future, we wish a Great Octogonal Success
