West Midlands Gigafactory has a vital role to play in powering the UK’s net zero ambitions

The West Midlands Gigafactory joint venture welcomed Labour’s plan to accelerate electric vehicle manufacturing with a network of Gigafactories, including the one planned in the West Midlands. The plan reinforces the vital role that the West Midlands Gigafactory has to play in the UK future electrified ecosystem.

The UK is developing a world-leading offer across the clean growth economy with opportunities across renewable energy, zero-emission vehicle technologies, sustainable consumption and infrastructure. It is the first major economy to adopt a legally binding obligation to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  

Currently, the UK lags behind the rest of the world in the global Gigafactory race and the creation of a network of Gigafactories across the UK will be strategically important to secure the UK’s net zero ambitions. However, the right market conditions need to be created to ensure that global battery manufacturers consider the UK a location for their next investment and the plan outlined by the Labour party would be a significant step towards achieving this.

Richard Moore, West Midlands Gigafactory Battery Strategy Expert, said, “With demand for battery manufacturing increasing, Gigafactories, such as the one planned here in the West Midlands, will be vital to deliver the industrial and economic growth and ensure that the UK remains globally competitive.”

“In the UK, for the automotive industry alone, demand for electric vehicle battery manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 200GWh by 2040. This is just the beginning and there is a huge energy storage market available and West Midlands Gigafactory is well-placed to support this support.” “We have the location, people and supply chain expertise developed in the automotive and battery sectors over many years to make us the perfect location for a Gigafactory. Now, we need to make sure that the UK has the right conditions to attract battery manufacturers to invest here.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at Coventry City Council, said,“As we stand at the dawn of a new electric age, we want the UK, and Coventry, to lead the green industrial revolution which will power the future of the country. “The West Midlands Gigafactory, alongside our broader local ambitions including the Very Light Rail programme, will put Coventry at the front of the green industrial revolution bringing significant investment and creating jobs for local people across our city. “The West Midlands Gigafactory is vital if we are to realise our ambitions for Coventry and Warwickshire to be at the heart of an emerging industry that can help power our local economy into the future.  Today’s announcement highlights that our local actions and investment are influencing the future industrial policy in the UK.”

The West Midlands Gigafactory is the only site in the UK with planning permission in place for a Gigafactory with capacity for 60GWh per annum and has the potential to become Britain’s largest battery manufacturing facility. It is right in the epicentre of the UK automotive industry and skills required and so perfectly positioned to help put Britain at the forefront of the electrification revolution.

The site is perfectly located at the heart of the UK’s manufacturing industry in the West Midlands with access to world-class skills, talent and supply chain capabilities in the region. It benefits from a strong transport infrastructure for the future Gigafactory’s logistics requirements, supply chain and access for up to 6,000 employees.

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