The Somerset battery factory intended to supply Jaguar Land Rover is set to receive £380m in UK government funding as the project moves forward despite delays.
The investment is being framed as a boost for economic growth and a way to help secure jobs linked to the plant and the wider automotive supply chain.
The factory is due to provide batteries for Jaguar Land Rover’s electric vehicles, including future electric versions of its Range Rover and Jaguar models. JLR is Britain’s largest automotive employer.
The site is owned through Agratas, the electric vehicle battery subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Tata, which also owns Jaguar Land Rover.
Construction on the Somerset facility has continued even as the project has faced setbacks. The new funding is intended to help keep the development on track.
The government support underlines the strategic importance of battery manufacturing in the UK as the car industry shifts towards electric models. For JLR, the plant is expected to play a key role in supplying the batteries needed for its upcoming EV line-up.
