Battery Factory Is Coming To Somerset
Released On 1st Nov 2023
(Image Courtesy of Tata - Jaguar - Land Rover)
Tata, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover, has officially announced its intentions to construct its flagship electric car battery manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. This new facility, located in Somerset, is anticipated to generate approximately 4,000 jobs within the UK and stimulate the creation of numerous additional positions throughout the broader supply chain.
Tata is committing a substantial £4 billion investment into the Somerset site, with additional support from the government in the form of substantial subsidies amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds. This initiative is being heralded as the most significant investment in the UK automotive industry since Nissan's establishment in the 1980s.
Situated near Bridgwater, the forthcoming giga factory is set to become one of the largest in Europe. Initially, its primary focus will be the production of batteries for Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, including the Range Rover, Defender, and Jaguar brands. However, there are plans to extend its services to other automobile manufacturers as well, with manufacturing operations at the new facility scheduled to commence in 2026.
Tata has engaged in prolonged negotiations to secure government assistance for this project, and the UK government has confirmed that Tata will receive substantial incentives to establish the plant in the UK. These incentives are expected to encompass various forms of support, such as cash grants, energy cost reductions, and funding for training and research initiatives.
The UK's automotive sector currently possesses just one significant giga factory, which is situated adjacent to Nissan's Sunderland plant. This stands in stark contrast to the 35 giga factories either in operation, under development, or on the drawing board across Europe. Regrettably, a second giga factory project slated for the North East, spearheaded by Britishvolt, encountered financial difficulties and entered administration earlier this year.
Jaguar Land Rover's giga factory is set to be constructed at the Gravity Smart Campus, situated near Bridgwater in Somerset. This location is promoted as a cutting-edge hub for advanced manufacturing in the green economy.
