Jobs boost as Ginetta signs China car deal

Lawrence Tomlinson, chairman of Ginetta, which builds road and racing cars, said the deal could also lead to expansion of the Garforth works as the factory steps up production to meet demand in other areas of the world.

The deal is for the newly launched G60 and G40R road cars to be sold in China and coincides with the arrival of the Chinese Olympic team to Leeds.

Mr Tomlinson said: “Ginetta is a very niche quirky brand and the Chinese love that. We don’t build volume for the mass market and the newly wealthy Chinese like the fact we are different.

“We have not yet deliberately focused on Far East customers but have had a number of approaches due to the success of our race cars around the world.”

He added: “We used to make 80 per cent of all our cars for the UK market.

“The reverse is now true and 80-90 per cent of our production is for overseas customers.”

Mr Tomlinson said Ginetta can invest in apprentices with confidence and look to expand manufacturing operations in Yorkshire.