Wales favorite for new car plant -Former Smart Roadster

BBC AUTO NEWS, WALES ENGLAND - - Wales has been chosen as the preferred location for a new car assembly plant, BBC Wales has learned.

A group under the name of Project Kimber bought the rights to produce DaimlerChrysler's Smart Car roadsters earlier this year.

Since then the group has been looking for a suitable location.

An announcement is due at the British International Motor Show in London that Wales has beaten Germany and the West Midlands to be the preferred location.

A source close to the project has told BBC Wales that a deal to bring the assembly plant to Wales has taken a major step forward.

Project Kimber will not as yet confirm where in Wales they want to set up the plant, or how many jobs will be created.

But if all goes to plan, it is understood it will be making 8,000 cars by next year.