Tata Group announces gigafactory for Somerset

The UK has been chosen as the home of Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, delivering a huge boost to the country’s automotive sector.

The gigafactory, which is likely to be built on a site near Bridgwater, will secure UK-produced batteries for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

The plant, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe. It will create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as thousands of further jobs in the wider supply chain for battery materials and critical raw minerals, helping grow the economy and take forward the UK’s commitment to net zero.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “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.”

Tata Chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said: “The Tata Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across our business.

“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.”