The Jaguar Land Rover success story has received another major boost - with extra Government funding of £80 million.
The car manufacturer is in line for the windfall following a successful application to the Regional Growth Fund.
JLR is one of 16 companies in the West Midlands to share a slice of £124 million from the RGF.
Lorely Burt, Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull, said JLR was to receive more than £80 million in RGF cash.
The funding will be earmarked for increased capacity, skills and training initiatives at Solihull and Castle Bromwich, design facilities at Land Rover in Solihull and design, engineering and manufacturing at Halewood.
The Solihull MP said: "This is fantastic news and I am thrilled that JLR have been recognised and rewarded as a leading UK company in the manufacturing industry.
"JLR's expansion in recent months is one of the greatest success stories of the year so far.
"It has boosted employment levels and job security in the West Midlands."
Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Erdington and the shadow housing minister, said: "Jaguar Land Rover is a world-class company with a world-class workforce, going from strength to strength.
"The success of the three RGF bids is good news for all three plants and will strengthen the supply chain, bringing badly needed jobs to the Midlands in a week when unemployment went up in the region."
A statement from Jaguar Land Rover said: "Jaguar Land Rover is one of hundreds of UK businesses invited to apply for these grants to support growth in the UK.
"We are very pleased to have been selected for this grant for three major projects in the West Midlands and the North-West.
"This grant will enhance the significant investment of £2 billion already being made by Jaguar Land Rover in the UK in 2012-13.
"The offer of the grant is subject to due diligence so Jaguar Land Rover does not have any further comment to make at this time.''
Aston Martin, in Gaydon, Warwickshire, will receive cash from the RGF to help it generate new models, and to help pay for the development of a new, fuel-efficient engine.
Automotive component manufacturer Dana UK Axle Ltd, in Birmingham, received funding to help install new technology including laser welding equipment.
A total of 16 businesses will share in the funding, along with the University of Wolverhampton, which will receive cash from the Government to pass on to smaller businesses.
The sums allocated to individual schemes have not been published because they are considered commercially confidential. But the total package of £124 million is more than any other region of the country is receiving, and Ministers say the cash will create or safeguard 43,890 jobs in the West Midlands.
A total of £1 billion has been allocated nationally in this round of Regional Growth Fund funding. It comes on top of £1.4 billion, including £232 million for the West Midlands, provided in previous rounds.
Each successful bid was approved by a panel chaired by Lord Heseltine, the former Deputy Prime Minister, and the aim is to help private industry create jobs in regions which have been hit by the loss of jobs in the public sector.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is overseeing the programme, said: "This £1 billion boost for growth in towns and cities across England is creating jobs that will last in the parts of the country that need it most.
"In tough economic times the Regional Growth Fund is good value for taxpayers' money - this £1 billion round of the fund is pulling in £6 billion of private sector investment."
