A century-old British manufacturing firm that provides parts for the car industry has been taken over by an Indian automotive firm. Mahindra & Mahindra, a tractor and utility vehicle manufacturer, has acquired 98.6% of shares in Stokes Forgings, which has two factories in Dudley and one in Walsall, for an undisclosed sum.

Stokes, founded in 1908, forges metal parts for vehicles. It employs about 240 people and had sales of £25m in 2004. It provides parts for Land Rover, Ford and Jaguar. Mahindra & Mahindra is India's market leader in multi-utility vehicles and tractors, employing 11,500 people.