Jaguar Land Rover parent Tata today confirmed it will build a £4 Billion battery plant outside Bridgewater, Somerset to open by 2026.
On the eve of a by-election in the county tomorrow, the Government said it would be supporting the Indian company’s investment with grants, training and energy costs but has not confirmed a specific figure thought to be about £500 Million.
The development was expected after Tata considered and then rejected building the gigaplant in Spain a few weeks ago.
The development, which will create about 4,000 jobs in the plant, with more in construction and supply networks, will provide traction batteries for JLR’s new generation of cars being designed and built for the second half of the decade.
It has been suggested that the plant will also supply other car-makers with power batteries and the news has been welcomed by the industry in Britain and financial institutions, but disappointed others in the Midlands, where most of the cars will be assembled by JLR.
The Bridgewater site adjacent to the M5 and a railway line was earmarked two years ago for the Rivian EV pickup but that has stalled.