Tata Group invest more than £4bn in UK electric car battery factory in Bridgwater
In one of the largest ever investments in the UK car sector, new ‘gigafactory’ will create up to 4,000 new skilled jobs and produce almost half the batteries needed by 2030.
Production at the new site in Bridgwater, Somerset, is due to start in 2026. It will supply Jaguar Land Rover’s future battery electric models, including the well-known Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, with potential to supply other car manufacturers as well.
Photo by Vignesh Rajendran
Tata dominates the electric car sector in India and last month committed investment of Rs130bn (£1.2bn) for a lithium-ion cell battery production plant in Gujarat.
The Bridgwater gigafactory will be the first such Tata Group plant located outside India, with an initial output of 40GWh making it one of the largest in Europe. It will provide almost half the battery production that the Faraday Institution estimates the UK will need by 2030, when sales of new petrol and diesel cars are due to end.
The announcement follows months of speculation about discussions between the government and Tata, which had also considered locating the new gigafactory in Spain. Details of government support for Tata Sons related to this investment will be published in due course.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says: ‘Tata Group’s multi-billion-pound investment in a new battery factory in the UK is testament to the strength of our car manufacturing industry and its skilled workers.
‘With the global transition to zero emission vehicles well underway, this will help grow our economy by driving forward our lead in battery technology whilst creating as many as 4,000 jobs, and thousands more in the supply chain.
‘We can be incredibly proud that Britain has been chosen as home to Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, securing our place as one of the most attractive places to build electric vehicles.’
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chair of Tata Sons, adds: ‘The Tata Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across our business.
‘Today, I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK. Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, JLR.
‘With this strategic investment, the Tata Group further strengthens its commitment to the UK, alongside our many companies operating here across technology, consumer, hospitality, steel, chemicals and automotive.’
Grant Shapps, Energy Security Secretary, says: ‘Today’s announcement from Tata is excellent news. We have been working tirelessly with the company, and across government, to make the case for why the UK is the best place for them to invest.
‘This new gigafactory puts us firmly in the fast lane to becoming the capital of Europe’s electric car market and makes crystal clear how they see the UK as the place to be for their future growth.
‘With thousands of jobs on site and in the supply chain, this new factory will be the cornerstone of our automotive industry, backing manufacturers to develop and expand, and customers to make the switch from petrol and diesel.’
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