19 July 2023: Indian conglomerate Tata Group is set to construct an electric vehicle (EV) battery facility in the United Kingdom, aiming to support its Jaguar Land Rover factories and significantly enhance the domestic battery production in the UK's car industry, thereby ensuring its sustainability goals.

As per the recent announcement by the British government and Tata on Wednesday, the company intends to establish its inaugural gigafactory outside of India in the UK, committing a substantial investment of 4 billion pounds ($5.2bn). This project will generate up to 4,000 job opportunities and result in an initial production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh) for EV batteries, enabling it to provide power for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles each year.

The company's expansion strategy for its versatile manufacturing capabilities will initiate with a swift and substantial increase in production, aiming to commence operations by the year 2026.

In an official press release by gov.uk, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons was quoted saying, "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."

Commenting on the Tata Group's announcement, Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister also said, "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. 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.”

Tata Group has not yet announced the precise location of their electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in the UK. They are aiming to optimise their renewable energy sources, with the goal of achieving 100% 'clean' power. Furthermore, the company has expressed their intention to incorporate battery recycling in the plant's operations, ensuring the recovery and reuse of all the initial raw materials to create a circular economy ecosystem.

The upcoming gigafactory in the UK is set to become Europe's largest battery cell manufacturing facility. This significant project will have a ripple effect, creating numerous additional jobs in the battery materials and critical raw minerals supply chain. This development will also play a crucial role in boosting the economy and supporting the UK's dedication to achieving net-zero emissions.