Somerset Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the official announcement that Tata Group’s global battery business, Agratas, will build a new multibillion-pound electric vehicle battery factory at the Gravity site near Bridgwater.
It represents a £4 billion investment in Somerset, which will directly create 4,000 new jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain. 
And it is hugely significant for the UK as a whole. By the early 2030s it will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.
Emma Rawlings (pictured), Chief Executive of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is fantastic news for Bridgwater, Somerset and the wider South West. It will bring a huge economic boost to the area, thousands of new jobs, investment in skills and scores of supply chain opportunities.
“It puts Somerset, its businesses and workforce at the heart of the green revolution to switch from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles and secures a home-grown supply chain, without the need to rely on imports.
“Somerset businesses are already familiar with the Hinkley Point C supply chain so are well placed to provide expertise for the gigafactory.
“And as car makers are already switching their production vehicles to all-electric, having capacity in the UK to produce batteries will almost certainly attract additional investment from the automotive industry.
“This is a massive vote of confidence in Somerset, the South West and UK.”
Read Gravity’s full announcement here.
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