Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata will announce plans to build its flagship electric car battery factory in the UK. People familiar with the matter said the new plant in Somerset would be officially announced on Wednesday.
The government is providing subsidies worth hundreds of millions of pounds, sources said. Some in the car industry have described the plant as the most important investment in UK automotive since Nissan came to Britain in the 1980s.
The investment could lead to the creation of up to 9,000 jobs in the Bridgwater area. But its significance lies in the boost it will give to the car manufacturing sector as it transitions from petrol and diesel to making electric vehicles.
The government has been criticised for lacking a clear industrial strategy and falling behind the US and EU in attracting investment in low-carbon technologies.
Some industry insiders hope that the Tata battery investment will open the door to further battery investments in the UK.
The UK currently only has one plant in operation next to Nissan’s Sunderland factory, and one barely on the drawing board in Northumberland.
Another proposed battery manufacturer, in the north east of England, Britishvolt, went into administration earlier this year.
By contrast the EU has 35 plants open, under construction or planned.
The government has outlined a series of net zero goals, including a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
The new factory in Somerset will supply batteries for a new range of electric Jaguar and Land Rover models.
Tata Group, an Indian multinational, did consider a rival site in Spain for the battery plant. Its decision to choose the UK is likely to be viewed as a big win for Britain by the government.
However, sources said a significant level of subsidy has been provided, which are likely to be in the form of cash grants, discounts on the cost of energy, and training and research funding. The size of the incentive package has not been disclosed.
As well as owning Jaguar Land Rover, Tata has extensive steel interests in the UK including the Port Talbot plant in South Wales and the government is also expected to offer around £300m to subsidise, upgrade, and decarbonise those operations.
A UK government spokesperson said it had no comment on the reports of the investment.
