Jaguar Land Rover-Owner Tata will build a 40GW electric car battery factory in the UK.
The Tata group will invest over £4bn to build a UK battery factory, set to deliver electric mobility and renewable energy storage solutions for customers in UK and Europe.
The deal comes after months of talks with the UK Government to secure subsidies for the project.
It is expected that the battery factory in Somerset will create 4,000 new direct jobs and thousands more along the supply chain.
Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors are set to be anchor customers, with supplies beginning in 2026.
The new electric car battery gigafactory, which will produce enough batteries to power hundreds and thousands of electric cars, will be a major boost to the UK car industry.
The move marks a step in the right direction for the UK’s transition to clean energy, as we near the 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles.
An electric car battery factory is welcome in the UK
Batteries generally make up half of the value of an electric car, which is why a reliable supply is necessary for the future of the British automotive industry.
While the EU and the US have pushed ahead with battery manufacturing plans, the UK’s battery industry has been falling behind.
Experts have warned parliament that urgent action is needed to help build up domestic battery manufacturing.
The UK only has one electric car battery factory currently in operation next to Nissan’s Sunderland factory. Another proposed battery gigafactory, led by battery startup Britishvolt, collapsed into administration earlier this year.
Comparatively, the EU has 35 battery plants planned, under construction, or open.
When I think of the iconic cars designed and made in Britain throughout history my mind goes to Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Land Rover.
Today marks a landmark day for the British auto industry and for two of those iconic brands in particular 👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/etqDpZeWL9
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 19, 2023
Commenting about the announcement of the UK gigafactory, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “Tata group’s decision to build their new gigafactory here in the UK – their first outside of India – is a huge vote of confidence in Britain. This will be one of the largest ever investments in the UK automotive sector.
“It will not only create thousands of skilled jobs for Britons around the country, but it will also strengthen our lead in the global transition to electric vehicles, helping to grow our economy in clean industries of the future.”
The battery gigafactory will produce sustainable battery cells
The Tata group’s UK battery factory is set to produce high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery cells for a variety of applications within the energy and mobility sectors.
The development will begin with a rapid ramp-up phase and production will then start in 2026. The electric battery factory in the UK will be developed to maximise its renewable energy mix, with a goal of 100% clean energy.
Innovative technologies and resource-efficient processes like battery recycling will be employed to deliver a circular economy ecosystem.
