Westfield wins £30m South Korean contract

Kingswinford-based Westfield Technology Group at Gibbons Industrial Park specialises in designing and building autonomous, electrically driven vehicles connecting public transport hotspots such as airports and train stations to local areas.

In the UK, the vehicles have been trialled in Bristol, Greenwich and the Lake District.

The business is set to supply three autonomous vehicles to Ulleungdo Island, a tourist hotspot, as part of South Korea’s ongoing investment in infrastructure. The PODs will be used by residents and tourists to explore the scenic east coast island.

DIT helped introduce the business to key contacts in the market, which led to the successful launch of two of these vehicles in South Korea last year. Since the win, DIT has supported with navigating legislative requirements, overcoming language barriers and understanding cultural differences.

The firm already exports across the globe, and the latest win is boosting export sales by 167 per cent.

Julian Turner, chief executive at Westfield Technology Group, said: “The research and development aspect of autonomous vehicles is at the forefront of the international transport agenda. As a business operating in the sector, we are experiencing so much demand from governments and councils from far and wide.

“It is only with the help of the Department for International Trade that we are able to meet demand and arrange introductions with the right people to bring our global expansion to life.

“DIT has played an incremental role in our movements in the market over the last 12 months, and we are looking forward to continuing working together to identify the best opportunities for us to continue to thrive around the world. If we can achieve this, so can so many others.”

Ian Harrison, head of exports at the Department for International Trade, said: “Westfield Technology Group is making huge strides across the globe, and this new export win is another positive marker of its success.

“Exporting does not come without its complexities - translations, finding the right suppliers or meeting the right contacts being just some of them.

“We have a number of International trade advisers on the ground in the West Midlands who are here to support aspiring businesses as they learn more about new markets and we have access to a unique overseas network in some 108 countries. We also hold a number of workshops and events that are solely built to find solutions to businesses’ concerns when it comes to exporting.

“Firms should be confident when looking to make movements overseas, and those looking to take their next step should get in touch with the local office to speak with an international trade adviser to find out more about opportunities that could work for them.”