Driven to diversification

In-Depth

The West Midlands may have lost many famous car names, but enduring automotive strengths and a focus on four other key sectors ensures the region is thriving. Berenice Baker reports.

Hear the West Midlands and the automotive sector mentioned in the same breath and you could be forgiven for expecting a sob story.

Certainly there have been tears aplenty over the years as famous car names galore succumbed to bankruptcy or overseas sale, but thankfully one of the most famous partnerships in UK industrial history shows no sign of giving up just yet.

With 1,500 companies in the region still serving the auto sector, 115,000 people employed in the industry and a £13bn turnover, predictions that the loss of Rover spelled the end for the area's car industry were wide of the mark.

Automotive is one of five designated priority areas for the region, alongside aerospace, medical technology, energy and digital media.

The

(WMG) works extensively with automotive companies. WMG principal adviser Dr Alistair Keddie said: 'One of our biggest successes is working with Jaguar Land Rover and 160 of its suppliers to develop lightweight materials for vehicles. We investigated the way they're integrated into vehicles, joining them, crash testing, systems integration and electronics.

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