Confirmed on February 27, Tata Group announced that Europe’s largest EV battery factory will be situated in Bridgewater, Somerset. Construction is set to commence shortly, with battery production slated to commence in 2026.
Backed by £500 million of UK government funding, the £4 billion facility will occupy the 620-acre Gravity Smart Campus, formerly a Royal Ordnance factory during World War Two, known for bomb production. Historically linked to various car and battery manufacturers, the site was widely anticipated to be Tata’s choice for groundbreaking in the upcoming months.
Tata’s first battery factory outside of India will be operated by subsidiary Agratas, boasting a capacity of 40GWh, making it one of Europe’s largest facilities. This capacity represents nearly half of the UK’s projected electric vehicle production needs by 2030.
Initially focused on supplying batteries to Tata Motors and JLR, the factory will later expand to serve diverse applications like commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and energy storage solutions.
With the creation of 4000 jobs directly and many more in the supply chain, Tata aims to involve local communities in its workforce, with plans to offer training programs in collaboration with local educational institutions.
The factory will manufacture cells in the rectangular prismatic format, with adaptable cell chemistry to accommodate future advancements.
Tata’s investment underscores its commitment to Britain’s transition to electric mobility, receiving positive feedback from industry leaders like Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief Mike Hawes.
Despite the positive outlook, concerns persist regarding the UK’s ability to meet the demand for batteries to sustain competitive EV production levels. The Faraday Institute estimates the need for 100GWh of capacity by 2030, rising to 200GWh by 2040. Apart from Tata’s Somerset site, only Nissan supplier Envision has concrete plans to expand UK battery production. LG aims to surpass Tata’s capacity in the long term with a planned 70GWh expansion at its plant in Poland.