Plan for new gigafactory in Somerset is welcome news for the wider region, say local experts
This week, Tata Group – owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) – confirmed plans to build an electric vehicle battery plant near Bridgewater in Somerset.
The investment of over £4 billion, will deliver electric mobility and renewable energy storage solutions for customers in the UK and Europe. Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors will be anchor customers, with supplies commencing from 2026.
The new gigafactory, 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.
Phil Smith, Managing Director, Business West
Commenting on the news, Phil Smith, Managing Director of Business West, said, “The announcement of the Government’s agreement with Tata Group to build a new gigafactory in Somerset is welcome news for the region’s businesses.
“Gravity [the under-construction ‘smart’ business park where the factory will be located] and the Tata gigafactory, which will predominantly supply Jaguar Land Rover, will drive forward the nation’s ambitions to decarbonise transport and support the country in its journey to Net Zero through advanced battery manufacturing.
“It’s a real landmark moment for the UK’s clean growth economy and will create up to 7,500 jobs while putting this region at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution.
“The South West, with its ecosystem of economic, innovation, academic and infrastructure assets, is the ideal location for this major industrial investment. The nearby universities of Bristol, West of England, Bath, Exeter and Cardiff, plus Bridgwater and Taunton College, means Gravity will have a pool of local talent it can work with to ensure the region plays an integral role in supporting young people to develop the right skills to further decarbonise our economy.
“This is the leading principle behind the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), which Business West delivers in the West of England, and it will be fantastic to see employers and colleges working together to ensure employers are making use of these local skills.”
Professor Andrew Graves
Meanwhile, Professor Andrew Graves, an expert on the automotive sector in the University of Bath School of Management, added, “The announcement that Jaguar Land Rover is building their electric battery gigaplant, with high-value jobs and suppliers in the UK, is great news for the survival of the British automotive industry, not just JLR. Since leaving the EU any UK manufacturer must commit to having 45% local content to be able to export to Europe.
“Batteries make up at least 55% of a vehicle’s value, therefore essential to be made in Britain to retain JLR and others here by 2030, the deadline for changeover to EV production. Europe is currently building 35 new gigafactories, so this investment, although somewhat late, is highly welcome. The ongoing financial implications for the UK taxpayer is still not clear, but without this investment the future for the UK’s automotive sector would be bleak.”
