Following three years of negotiations, Dudley-based Westfield Sportscars has won its first-ever contract in China. The company will build more than 100 of its vehicles for GD Aero Technology in Shanghai to distribute across Asia.

Managing director Julian Turner said that securing the order has helped to safeguard the 20 jobs at its headquarters in Gibbons Industrial Park. He said: “We are delighted to work with GDAT. There is genuine technological and advanced manufacturing cross-over between the aerospace and sports-car sectors.”

Westfield, which has exported more than 12,000 vehicles since it was launched in 1983, worked with UK Trade & Investment to help secure the Chinese deal.

Mr Turner added: “Exporting cars comes with strict regulations, but if we as a car marker can succeed as an exporter, then we honestly believe anyone can. We would encourage any business thinking about exporting to go and find out what help they can get.”

Paul Keeling, international trade adviser at UKTI in the West Midlands, said: “Westfield Cars is a superb example of how an ambitious company that offers a quality product can make a real success of its business overseas.

“We have worked very closely with the company and its approach of really understanding the markets it wants to enter and spending time doing its research on those countries pays dividends.”