Leading Birmingham motor manufacturing firms Jaguar Land Rover and GKN are among car industry leaders urging voters to back Remain in this week’s EU referendum.

The car industry body Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has announced that staying in the European Union is best for its business and best for British jobs, just days ahead of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which has factories in Castle Bromwich, Gaydon and Solihull and GKN, which has its headquarters in Redditch and bases in Erdington and Kings Norton, are joined by national car makers Toyota UK, Vauxhall and BMW and component maker Magal Engineering on the remain side.

COMMENT:

The announcement comes on the day that the Birmingham Mail urged readers to back Remain and not to gamble with the city's economic success.

Tens of thousands of jobs across the Midlands depend on the success of motor manufacturing and the firms intervention is seen as crucial in the campaign.

Below: Jeremy Clarkson and James May back remaining in the EU

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JLR, which is owned by Tata, has been a Birmingham success story over the last few years.

Ken Gregor, chief financial officer for JLR, said: “Remaining in the EU, our largest market, will increase Jaguar Land Rover’s chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment in future technologies.

"Our European supply chain has been fundamental in helping us to meet customer expectations worldwide and achieve sustainable, profitable growth.”

GKN, in Kings Norton

And GKN chief executive Nigel Stein added: “We see a real benefit in remaining in the EU. A vote to leave will not mean manufacturing investment disappears overnight, but over time a UK outside the EU will be disadvantaged and will lose the investment it needs to maintain our industries.”

OPINION:

A survey by the SMMT found 77 per cent of its members, including all major manufacturers, in favour of Remain and just nine per cent for Brexit. It says 80 per cent of cars made in the UK are exported and 57 per cent of those go to the rest of the EU.

The UK car industry supports 800,000 jobs and contributes £15.5 billion a year to the economy and after a tricky time during the recession has emerged stronger.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “UK Automotive is globally competitive, securing record levels of investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs annually and exporting to over 100 countries.

“We want this success to continue rather than jeopardise it by increasing costs, making our trading relationships uncertain and creating new barriers to our single biggest and most important market, Europe. Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depend.