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UK Government Awards £380 Million to Tata Group's Agratas for Somerset EV Battery Gigafactory
The UK government has provided £380 million in funding to Agratas, the battery division of India's Tata Group, to support construction of an electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Somerset. The facility aims to produce batteries for Jaguar Land Rover models and contribute to the country's zero-emission vehicle transition.
Apr 9, 1:00 PM·2m read2 sources
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The UK government has awarded £380 million to Agratas, the battery arm of India's Tata Group, to build an electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Bridgwater, Somerset. This funding supports the facility's development, which is set to become the UK's largest gigafactory. Production is planned to begin in 2025.
The investment comes from the Department for Business and Trade's DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund, administered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK. Overall, the programme allocates £470 million across multiple projects. Agratas's share totals approximately £380 million, described as substantial government support.
Agratas is advancing construction at the Bridgwater site, with cladding and insulation nearly complete.
Internal equipment fitting is next, followed by an imminent start on a nearby ring road. The ring road will include roundabouts, culverts, drainage systems, street furniture, signage, lighting, and landscaping. The gigafactory will initially produce batteries for Tata-owned models, including the Range Rover, Land Rover Defender, and Jaguar vehicles.
Tata Group is the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover. The project involves an initial investment of £4 billion by Agratas.
“— Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC (GB News)”
The funding is expected to create around 1,600 jobs in the area and across the supply chain. These positions will be secure and highly skilled. The initiative aligns with the UK's transition to zero-emission vehicles. Additional £84 million from the fund will support projects with vehicle manufacturers Jaguar Land Rover, ELM Mobility, Maeving, and Nissan.
Experts have previously urged increased government funding to bolster electric vehicle battery production. The programme aims to advance the automotive sector's decarbonization efforts.
