West Midlands MEP Anthea McIntyre has welcomed news that Jaguar Land Rover and other automotive firms in the West Midlands will be the main beneficiaries of £110 million of new government funding.

According to reports the investment, alongside significant funding from the motor industry, will help develop the next generation of driverless and low-carbon vehicles.

The money is being released as part of the Government’s new Industrial Strategy, announced last month.

Miss McIntyre said: "Ultra low-emission cars and driverless technology are the future of the automotive industry. Our world-leading manufacturers are already in the vanguard and this will add further impetus to their research and development programmes.

"It is yet another vote of confidence too in the wonderful, skilled and dedicated workforce we have in our region in this sector.

"The projects cover a wide range of innovations in low-emissions technology, and could help safeguard 2,370 UK jobs. Other West Midlands firms to benefit alongside JLR are Westfield sports cars in Kingswinford and Penso Consulting in Coventry. 

"Conservative Mayoral candidate Andy Street has promised that he wants the West Midlands right at the cutting edge in the race to develop driverless green cars. This is backed by significant investment from our Government."