Tata Group, revealed plans on Wednesday for its inaugural gigafactory outside of India, slated to be situated in Bridgwater, United Kingdom.
The announcement signals a step forward in the company's expansion into the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market.
The £4 billion ($5 billion) investment will see the establishment of a cutting-edge facility in Somerset, South West England, dedicated to battery production. Confirming the details, Tata Group's global battery arm, Agratas, disclosed that the 40 GWh factory will take shape at Bridgwater’s Gravity Smart Campus. This development aligns with Tata's prior declaration in July last year, wherein the UK plant was earmarked to become one of Europe's largest battery cell-manufacturing hubs.
The gigafactory is poised to stimulate economic growth in the region, with projections indicating the creation of up to 4,000 green-tech jobs directly and a cascade of additional employment opportunities indirectly. Agratas underscored the transformative impact of the venture, stating that it anticipates the generation of "many thousands" of supplementary roles.
CEO of Agratas, Tom Flack, expressed enthusiasm for the venture, highlighting its role in propelling Britain's transition towards electric mobility. "Our multibillion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to Somerset, helping to supercharge Britain's transition to electric mobility whilst creating thousands of jobs in the process," Flack remarked.
According to the official statement, battery production is slated to commence in 2026, with premier automotive entities such as Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors earmarked as the initial clientele.
The gigafactory's envisioned output encompasses "high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery cells and packs" tailored for diverse applications spanning the mobility and energy sectors. Emphasizing environmental stewardship, the facility is committed to maximizing the utilization of renewable energy sources, aspiring to achieve a 100 percent clean power supply.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, hailed the initiative as a pivotal milestone in the company's strategic roadmap. "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," Chandrasekaran affirmed during last year's announcement.
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