Rover's Brilliance slated by VW boss

Bernd Pichetsreider, the former BMW boss who lost his job over the German group's disastrous purchase of Rover, has launched an attack on the British motor company's strategy.

Mr Pichetsreider, who is now chairman of Volkswagen, was highly critical of Rover's strategic alliance with China Brilliance, the Chinese car and bus maker which has joined forces with Rover to develop new models.

In London last week, Mr Pichetsreider said of Rover: "If they can find a partner to develop a platform for a new car, they can survive." But, he said, China Brilliance was not that partner. "The company's name is Brilliance, but what they do is the opposite." What the company made, he added, had "four wheels and an engine but could not be called a car."

His comments will have a hollow resonance at Rover, purchased for just £1 from BMW after the German group lost more than £2bn on the ailing British car maker.

It is struggling to regain profitability, using the MG marque to rebrand its cars with a sportier look.

Mr Pichetsreider was forced out of BMW over the Rover debacle but was soon hired by its north German rival VW, where he is guiding a two-pronged strategy with brands such as Bentley, Audi, Skoda and Seat.