On Wednesday, Tata Group announced the location for its new multibillion-pound UK battery factory, revealing that it will be situated in Bridgwater, southwest England. Valued at £4 billion ($5 billion), the plant at Bridgwater's Gravity Smart Campus in Somerset will mark Tata's inaugural gigafactory outside India. Agratas, Tata Group's global battery business, confirmed that the 40 GWh factory is set to become one of Europe's largest battery-cell manufacturing sites.
Initially disclosed in July, the UK plant is anticipated to generate up to 4,000 green-tech jobs in the region, with an additional "many thousands" expected indirectly, according to a statement from Agratas. Tom Flack, CEO of Agratas, highlighted the substantial investment, emphasizing that it will introduce cutting-edge technology to Somerset, contributing to the advancement of Britain's transition to electric mobility while fostering job creation.
The construction of the factory will occur in stages, with battery production slated to commence in 2026, as mentioned in the statement. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Tata Motors are identified as the "first customers" for the batteries produced at this facility.
Gravity's network spans England’s South West and the corridor from Cardiff to Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Swindon. Together, it has world-leading expertise in science and technology and a track record of delivery across a swathe of sectors that shape how we live, travel and work. The region has the UK’s largest aerospace sector, with companies including Airbus, Boeing, and Rolls Royce operating here.