West Midlands-based manufacturer Goodyear will supply tyres for the new MG3 Supermini, in a move which sees two of the region’s highest-profile automotive companies working in partnership.

The link coincides with the results of the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) quarterly Industrial Trends Survey, which shows that growth in the UK’s confidence in manufacturing is at its strongest in 18 years.

MG Motors' latest model, which is assembled in Longbridge, will come equipped with Goodyear’s EfficientGrip Performance tyres, the compound for which is produced at its Wolverhampton factory.

The EfficientGrip Performance went through several rounds of testing against a number of other leading brands before being chosen.

Kate Rock, Goodyear Dunlop consumer and brand PR manager said: “It is wonderful to continue working closely with MG. As the CBI figures show, confidence is growing and this new partnership is evidence of that growth here in the Midlands.

“The EfficientGrip Performance tyre has topped independent testing polls thanks to its wet grip and rolling resistance abilities. Not only is it a tyre that improves driver safety, but it also has a positive impact on the environment too.”

Guy Jones, sales and marketing director at MG, said: “Goodyear’s plant is close to our factory in Birmingham where the MG3 was designed and developed by our team of 300 designers and engineers.”