Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) owner Tata Group has announced that its Agratas global battery business is to build an EV battery gigafactory in Somerset.
Preliminary works on the site, at the Gravity Smart Campus site in Puriton near Bridgwater, have begun, and battery production is due to start in 2026.
JLR and Tata Motors will be the first customers but Agratas also plans to make batteries for other applications, including two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, as well as commercial energy storage solutions.
A £4 billion investment, the Agratas factory is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs and many more as part of the supply chain.
The plant is expected to produce 40GWh of battery cells per year, enough to supply about 500,000 passenger vehicles.
Once fully operational, the factory is set to be Britain’s biggest battery factory, and one of the largest in Europe, as well as being Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India.
Tom Flack, CEO, Agratas, said, “Our multi-billion-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.
“We care deeply about the communities we operate in, so it’s imperative to us that we work with, and listen to, our new neighbours as we build our factory in Somerset.
“That’s why we’ll be holding an event for local residents very soon, so we can share more about our plans and introduce our team to the community.”
Councillor Ros Wyke, Somerset Council’s Executive Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, said, “Agratas and the Council will be working with local colleges to deliver the comprehensive workforce and skills solution, including strategic links to other training and academic institutions, to help deliver the specialist skills needed for this project, and to maximise the opportunities for local people and businesses.”
