There is a common misconception about QEK, that it simply operates a big car park where thousands of vehicles are left in storage by manufacturers for months on end. Not only is this assumption not true, it also bears no reflection on its business.

Yes, there are up to 9,000 vehicles on site at the former United States Air Force base at Upper Heyford but most of them are moved in and out very quickly.

QEK is used by manufacturers to distribute its fleets of test cars to journalists and celebrities wanting transport, as well as by rental companies wanting fast distribution to clients.

The cars are valeted, serviced, checked and repaired by QEK as necessary before going out to the next customer.

As a result, the company can also help manufacturers identify potential faults in their vehicles, ensuring they are ironed out at an early stage, before they become too expensive to rectify.

Managing director Jim Olexa said: "There is a good example in our North American operation where a new car came out and we put it through our automated wash system and one of the panels buckled.

"We identified that there was not enough metal in the design and so we ended up saving the client $12m. Not only can we locate faults but also find better ways of doing things by carrying out a lot of test miles."

QEK, originally known as Keddy, was formed in 1991 as a spin-off of leasing firm Leaseplan. It was originally set up to support Nissan and was based in Slough. Then, in 1994, the company won another contract with Volkswagen and outgrew its facilities. This led to a meeting with Cherwell District Council which was keen to attract companies to Upper Heyford, where there were a lot of empty buildings.

As a result, the company made the move along with about 300 workers. It added Renault and Mazda to its client list and now has more than 500 staff, investing £15m in its site in the last 11 years. Current turnover is £31m.

The company has its global headquarters in Michigan and Mr Olexa, 41, hails from Detroit, the heart of vehicle manufacturing in the US, and so is a car man to the soles of his shoes.

But he is now settled in Oxfordshire with his wife and three daughters and is keen to point out that entire families now work for the company, making it an integral part of the community.

It is also a diverse workforce with many of the drivers former company directors looking for a less demanding job in retirement' and that also includes former British Touring Car Championship driver David Leslie.

Mr Olexa added: "Twelve per cent of our workforce is aged 60 or more and we actively recruit in that age group."

Such experience is invaluable and when an approach was made by the Duke of Edinburgh's office for a driver-demonstrator to provide a vehicle for a holiday, the QEK representative fitted the bill to such an extent that a personal letter of thanks was sent to the company.

At the other end of the spectrum, QEK also has seven apprentices in the workshops and the firm also spends a lot of time talking to local schools, such as the Cooper School in Bicester.

That means it can interest potential workers at an early age which is a boost with so little unemployment in the area, meaning few decent candidates.

Technology lies at the heart of QEK and in recent years it has had a profound impact on its operations.

It developed its own vehicle management system that keeps track of every vehicle currently on the stock list and now a new web-based application allows drivers to access a hand-held PDA informing them exactly where a free parking space is at their destination in real time.

And the paint and bodyshops also use state-of-the-art equipment which logs the progress of every vehicle and estimates the time when it will be ready to hit the road again.

Such advances have meant a 30 per cent increase in efficiency across the site. Every vehicle can be put to its optimum use, which has allowed the manufacturers to cut back on their fleets.

As a result, there are fewer cars on site and QEK has cut back its occupancy from 80 to 60 acres.

Mr Olexa said: "There is new efficiency and cost-cutting in the car industry with manufacturers realising it is no longer cost-effective to stockpile cars."

The long-term future of its particular site at Upper Heyford is open to debate, with plans by landlords the North Oxfordshire Consortium (NOC) made up of Taylor Woodrow, George Wimpey and Persimmon Homes recently buying the site from the Ministry of Defence.

It plans to build 1,000 homes, which could mean QEK would have to move, although logic suggests a new home could be found for such a large employer. A new planning brief will be going out to public consultation next month.

Any move would mean QEK would be able to invest in new buildings, which would be seen as a positive move for the company and the area.

Mr Olexa added: "We have wanted to redevelop the site since we arrived and look forward to being part of the long-term settlement here."

Contact: QEK, www.qekgs.com