UK Trade & Investment international trade adviser Paul Keeling is pictured left with Julian Turner, managing director of Westfield Sportscars

Black Country Sports Car Firm Hosts High-Level Malaysian Visit

Company Name: Westfield Sportscars Ltd

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.

For more information about how UK Trade & Investment can help your business expand into new markets abroad, contact the international trade team at Black Country Chamber of Commerce on Tel: 0845 872 4293.