Tata Motors Initiates Gigafactory Construction in UK

Tata Motors, the Indian automotive giant and owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has announced that it has begun construction of a battery cell gigafactory in the UK. The investment, worth over £4 billion, is one of the largest ever in the UK automotive sector and will create thousands of jobs and boost the country’s transition to zero emission vehicles.

The gigafactory, located in Somerset, will have a capacity of 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year, making it one of the largest in Europe. It will produce high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery cells and packs for a variety of applications within the mobility and energy sectors. Tata Motors and JLR will be the anchor customers, with supplies commencing from 2026.

The gigafactory is part of Tata Group’s commitment to electric mobility and renewable energy storage solutions, which also includes JLR’s plan to become an all-electric luxury brand by 2030. The gigafactory will secure UK-produced batteries for JLR’s electric vehicles, as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

The gigafactory will also support the UK’s net zero ambitions, as it intends to maximise its renewable energy mix, with an aspiration for 100% clean power. The plant will employ innovative technologies and resource efficient processes like battery recycling to recover and reuse all the original raw materials to deliver a truly circular economy ecosystem.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, said: “The Tata Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across all of our business. Today, I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK. Our multi-billion pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, Jaguar Land Rover.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the announcement, saying: “Tata Group’s decision to build their new gigafactory here in the UK – their first outside of India – is a huge vote of confidence in Britain. This will be one of the largest ever investments in the UK automotive sector. It will not only create thousands of skilled jobs for Britons around the country, but it will also strengthen our lead in the global transition to electric vehicles, helping to grow our economy in clean industries of the future.”