It is believed the company will approach Nanjing Automotive to see if the two-wheeler can be built at Rover's spiritual home in Longbridge, where the carmaker's first pedal cycle was made in 1908.

“Although car sales in China have rocketed, a lot of people still use bicycles, and the idea of an imported brand has a lot of appeal to lifestyle-conscious cyclists in places like Beijing and Hong Kong,” said Nanjing spokeswoman April Furst.

“In recent years the British media hasn't linked the Rover' brand with success, but in China it's a designer label, up there with Gucci and Prada, and we'll be making a strong pitch for the funky. zero-emissions characteristics of the 21st Century Rover Safety Bicycle.” Nanjing is building British designed version of the Rover 75 car in China but in an example of swapping technologies, the Rover Safety Bicycle is an adaption of a popular Chinese two wheeler, the Hoohee Flyer. “We'll be offering lifestyle accessories including monogrammed bicycle clips, a bicycle pump with a leather-look handle that resembled an MG TF gear knob and for the less self conscious a giant, gold-plated bell called the 'Bling',” said April Furst.