Pictured above: UK Trade & Investment international
trade adviser Paul Keeling is pictured left with Julian Turner,
managing director of Westfield Sportscars
Black Country sports car manufacturer Westfield Sportscars Ltd
has hosted a top level delegation from one of Malaysia's leading
corporations to cement a deal to increase its production fivefold
over the next three years.
The Kingswinford company, which currently produces about 400
vehicles a year as kit-car or ready-built models, recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysian firm DRB-HICOM following
support from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).
To take this forward, Westfield recently welcomed a special
project team from DRB-HICOM, led by the Malaysian firm's group
managing director, for a joint technical and feasibility study to
work together towards producing a selected range of sports cars for
the Asia-Pacific market.
Westfield's managing director Julian Turner said: "This deal is
a major milestone for our company. It will open up new markets for
our vehicles through DRB-HICOM's manufacturing and distribution
networks, increasing our production fivefold within the next three
years.
"We are planning to work together to develop a new range of
sports cars, which will all be made in the West Midlands.
"None of this would have happened without UKTI. We first made
contact with DRB-HICOM after presenting at a UKTI-supported
international trade show and went on to visit them with funding
from UKTI.
"Our international trade adviser, Paul Keeling, helped us
firstly through the Passport to Export initiative, which we have
recently completed, and then with a bespoke and focused
international action plan.
"Export sales now make up 95 per cent of our £4m annual
turnover. We have dealers across Europe, and in the Asia-Pacific
region, Australia and the USA, and have just signed a new dealer in
Germany - which is projected to bring in an additional
£500,000 - after visiting the market with funding through
Passport."
The company is planning to more than double its 33-strong
workforce to meet the demand from the Malaysia deal.
UKTI international trade adviser Paul Keeling, based at Black
Country Chamber of Commerce, delivers the international element of
the Advantage West Midlands International Automotive Cluster
programme.
He said: "This collaboration with DRB-HICOM has fantastic
potential for Westfield and I'm delighted that we were able to
help.
"We're continuing to support the company within the AWM Niche
Vehicle Network and by putting the UKTI logo on the cars for track
days here in the UK and at international exhibitions."
UKTI's flagship Passport to Export programme provides a package
of support for new or novice exporters, including a free export
health check, attendance at an export workshop, assistance in
formulating an international trade strategy and matched funding to
help implement this strategy, quality training and mentoring advice
and access to the full range of UKTI services.