The Black Country manufactures automotive and aerospace products that are used and shipped all over the world. It is a key sector for the region employing over 36,700 people. Whilst many of these are currently in machinery and motor vehicles, the emergence of new technologies, particularly those in the aerospace field will become increasingly important, particularly considering the UK aerospace industry is forecast to grow over the coming years at 6.8% per annum. 

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Encompassing aerospace, there are a total of 2,860 businesses that operate in the sector, accounting for 7.8% of the total Black Country GVA – more than the UK (at 6.4%). Similarly, the sector accounts for 7.4% of jobs compared to the UK average of 6.6%.

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There are 120 high turnover businesses and 13 large businesses employing over 250 people with Jaguar Land Rover, being the largest automotive employer in the UK is based at the Black Country Enterprise Zone.

The sector includes international logistics operators - Geopost UK and Interlink Express Parcels Limited as well as leading aerospace companies, Moog, HS Marston Aerospace, Timken, Goodrich
Actuation Systems and Hampton Industries. 

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The Black Country also has a large proportion of automotive SMEs including Rimstock in West Bromwich and Walsall-based BJS Delivery. Businesses like CAB Automotive’s interior components are shipped to major global automotive manufacturers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, Nissan, Toyota and McLaren Automotive.

The automotive sector is predicted to have a strong future, with 2 million vehicles due to be assembled per year, until 2020. Black Country businesses feature heavily across the supply chain from component design right through to manufacturing of commercial, motorsport and military land vehicles.

The sector is also moving towards new technologies including lightweight vehicles; energy storage and energy management; intelligent transport systems and electric vehicles all of which are prominent.