UK on verge of winning major electric vehicle battery plant as Tata favours U.K. over Spain
- Britain is the favoured location for a major electric vehicle (EV) battery plant by Tata, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover.
- The UK government offered a support package, increasing the likelihood of Tata choosing a UK factory.
- No final decision has been made, but choosing the UK would secure JLR’s plants and would be a massive boost to the country’s post-Brexit automotive industry.
Tata, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), is strongly considering the UK as the location for a new gigafactory to produce electric car batteries.
The U.K. government’s support package has been influential in attracting the investment, which could propel the country into the battery technology sector.
This development is momentous as major manufacturers, including Stellantis, Ford, and JLR, have expressed concerns about the future of the UK’s EV manufacturing industry, with indigenous battery production being crucial, according to EU rules on local content. Winning this bid would be a significant step in the right direction.
If Tata ultimately selects the UK, it would secure the future of JLR’s plants, securing thousands of jobs for the long term. The plant is pencilled in for Somerset, England, where it would manufacture EV batteries for JLR’s upcoming lineup of zero emissions vehicles scheduled to be launched in 2024.
Tata remains clear that no final decision has been made.
