Tata Group’s battery subsidiary, Agratas, has begun construction on what is set to become one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery factories. Located in Somerset, the facility is scheduled to open in 2027 and represents a significant step forward in the UK’s EV supply chain.
This milestone follows over a year after the £4 billion project received approval to be built on the site of a former World War II bomb-making factory in Bridgwater. On Monday, the first steel frames were erected for the main production building, marking a key milestone in the development. Agratas has confirmed that all the steel used is sourced from British suppliers. Work on additional buildings will commence soon, with final foundations already being laid.
Earl Wiggins, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at Agratas, called the moment a “proud achievement,” emphasizing the facility’s vital role in the UK’s EV supply chain. He noted, “This world-leading facility will be at the heart of growth and innovation right here in Somerset.”
The announcement coincides with the recent publication of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, which aims to strengthen advanced manufacturing and support the growing battery sector. Sarah Jones MP, Industry Minister, hailed the development, saying, “The progress at Agratas’ gigafactory is a sign of the massive growth potential for UK battery manufacturing.”
Agratas’ new gigafactory will be Tata’s first battery production facility outside India and is set to have an eventual capacity of 40GWh, making it one of the largest battery plants in Europe. This capacity will help meet nearly half of the UK’s projected battery needs for electric vehicles by 2030.
The factory, which is expected to create 4,000 jobs, will initially produce batteries for Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles, before expanding to supply cells for other applications, including commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and energy storage systems. In addition to direct employment, Tata anticipates thousands of more jobs will be created in the local supply chain, as various support businesses and technology companies set up in the area.
The factory will produce cells in the rectangular prismatic format, distinguishing them from the cylindrical cells used by companies like BMW and Tesla. Tata has also stated that the cell chemistry will be adaptable, enabling future innovations as battery technology continues to evolve.
While the construction of the Bridgwater site has been welcomed as a major boost to the UK’s EV sector, there are still concerns about whether the country can build enough batteries to support the projected growth in EV production. The Faraday Institute estimates that the UK will need 100GWh of battery capacity by 2030, rising to 200GWh by 2040. Aside from Tata’s Bridgwater site, only Nissan’s supplier, Envision, has announced plans to expand battery production in the UK, aiming for a 38GWh capacity at its Sunderland plant.
Once completed, Tata’s Bridgwater facility will be the largest battery plant in Europe, surpassing even LG’s plans for a 70GWh expansion at its plant in Poland, which supplies battery packs to major automakers such as Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. Agratas is the Tata Group’s global battery venture, established in 2023 to design, develop, and manufacture high-performance, sustainable battery cells for electric vehicles and energy storage applications.
Building world-class gigafactories in both India (Sanand, Gujarat) and the UK (Bridgwater, Somerset), it’s backed by a ₹950 crore investment and aims to reach 20 GWh capacity in India and 40 GWh in the UK. Agratas leverages Tata Technologies’ digital engineering expertise to accelerate industrialisation, from cell design to pack integration, targeting first production by 2026.
With sustainability front-and-center, its facilities will rely on clean energy and circular economy practices—reusing, recycling, and recovering materials. Early customers include Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover, and as Agratas scales, it’s forging partnerships with universities and research institutions to push next‑gen chemistries and manufacturing processes.
.
