CPP, the Coventry company producing the new Spyker C8 Aileron, is hiring 40 new skilled staff to ramp up production of the supercar.

The first customer model is set to roll off the production line this spring - destined for the export market - and the Wheler Road firm is bringing in new engineers and skilled staff to work on the Spyker C8 Aileron and other projects it has underway.

Brendan O'Toole, the managing director of CPP, said: "We are delighted to be moving on apace with the Spyker C8 Aileron, which is a landmark project for the city of Coventry.

"That, along with a range of other exciting projects we are currently working on, means we need further staff.

"I know there is the skills set in the area because of Coventry's, Warwickshire's and the wider West Midlands' automotive and manufacturing heritage.

"We could go outside the region for staff but I would much prefer to tap into the knowledge and skills that are already here.

"We need staff right the way along the production process from CAD designers and "body in white" technicians through to paint sprayers and full vehicle assemblers in our newly expanded facility.

"They are capabilities which are very much part of our automotive industry. Hopefully as we build we can take on people who otherwise might have to have swapped to different industries."

CPP had been producing body panels for Spyker for more than a decade before the decision was made to move full production of the new Spyker C8 Aileron from Holland to the city in 2010.

Spyker was founded in 1875 and produced its first motorcar in 1898. The company's vehicles were immediately known for their performance and exclusivity.

CPP was formed in 1995 and has quickly established a strong reputation within the automotive industry.

Several Spykers - with bodies produced at CPP - are now in the Coventry Transport Museum on general display and also in the Le Mans exhibition.

O'Toole added: "The new Spyker C8 Aileron has attracted a great deal of interest and excitement in the region - and rightly so. 

"It is bringing renewed confidence to Coventry and to manufacturing and that is very pleasing to see and we are delighted to be part of that.

"It is one of a number of exciting projects that we are involved in and, going forward, we think there will be more good news to tell and more jobs created.

"We announced the production move to Coventry just over a year ago and have wanted to ensure everything is perfectly in place before pressing the button. There have been several developments - all positive - which has meant that process has taken longer than we originally planned."

As well as its existing base in Wheler Road, CPP expanded into a new bespoke assembly plant close to its headquarters on the back of the announcement with Spyker Cars last year, allowing it to improve its production capacity by more than 30 per cent.