Andrew Smith, Oxford East MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will open BMW's new 400m engine plant tomorrow a move that is set to spark a jobs boost.

The massive factory, at Hams Hall, near Birmingham, employs 450, a figure that is expected to rise to 650 by the end of the year.

At full capacity, the plant, the most modern engine factory in the world, can produce more than 400,000 units a year and will employ 1,500.

Almost 9,000 job hopefuls called the free number within a week of advertisements appearing in West Midlands newspapers and on radio stations last year.

As part of the selection process, applicants are being invited to special weekend open days before being formally interviewed.

BMW said that in view of the large number of applications the process would take several months.

Tomorrow's opening will be hosted by BMW board chairman Prof Joachim Milberg. The first engines have started to roll off the line and at present, about 20 engines per day are being produced.

BMW says the factory will play a crucial role in its international production network as the "centre of competence" for the production of all BMW four-cylinder petrol engines between 1.6 and 2.0 litres in capacity.

The engines will be exported to the BMW's vehicle assembly plants in Germany, at Munich, Regensburg and Dingolfing, and to South Africa and the USA.