AN electric vehicle parts maker is close to announcing fresh deals to build on a factory expansion and a $431m order pipeline, its boss has hinted.

Sevcon’s Matt Boyle has urged people to “watch this space” as the business gains greater purchase in a multi-billion dollar sector.

The company, based in Gateshead, is known for supplying controllers for the all-electric Renault Twizy city car, and is creating 200 jobs to complement a switch to a larger plant.

The expansion comes as Sevcon continues to take a greater foothold in the electric vehicle sector, with its pipeline of work standing at $431m (£336m) compared to $26m (£20m) in 2015.

Its recruitment plans will see workers be taken on over the next three years, with an initial 20 joining its existing 80-strong team in the coming weeks, while the business is moving into a new Team Valley site to ramp up manufacturing and testing work.

However, Mr Boyle, president and chief executive, said it was also close to securing new contracts to bolster its presence further.

He told The Northern Echo: “Just watch this space; there is a lot of good things going on around the business.

“The market is where the growth is.

“We are not pushing stuff out or kicking it out; the market is already there.

“The pipeline is not slowing down, it is billions of dollars of opportunities and it’s about how we set ourselves up to satisfy what we have decided to do.

“We get involved in some neat stuff and are sought out because we fix problems.”

Any new deals will build on an existing agreement worth up to £160m to develop an electric drivetrain for a Chinese and European vehicle maker and arrangements, worth more than £56m, to help develop controls capable of electrifying drive systems for a British supercar company.

The business has also opened an office at Milton Park, near Oxford, which could yield further work with nearby Formula One teams and motor companies.

However, a main driver in its recent growth has been bosses’ decision to take on Italian battery charger producer Bassi.

The company acquired Bassi a year ago to increase its hold on the electric vehicle market, sell equipment to more customers and enhance new controllers.

Mr Boyle added: “Customers regularly ask for charging solutions.

“By offering a broader product portfolio, which eliminates motor controller and battery charger interoperability concerns, we believe we can secure a greater market share.”