Britain scores crucial Brexit victory as new £1billion electric car battery factory agreed
Britain scores crucial Brexit victory over Spain as the manufacturing giant is set to announce a new multibillion-pound electric car battery factory for Somerset, creating 9,000 jobs
- Jaguar and Land Rover owners expected to finalize factory details next week
The UK has won a crucial Brexit battle with Spain as a manufacturing giant prepares to announce a new multi-billion pound electric car battery factory in Somerset that will create 9,000 jobs.
The chairman of Tata Group, which owns Jaguar and Land Rover, is due to travel to London next week to finalize details of the new factory.
They are also expected to meet the prime minister sometime next week.
Car industry experts have hailed the new plant as the biggest car investment in the UK since Nissan arrived in Britain in the 1980s.
The new Bridgewater site, close to the M5, would create around 9,000 jobs.
The Bridgewater site in Somerset, where a multi-billion pound electric car battery factory is set to be created, creating 9,000 jobs
The chairman of Tata Group, owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, is due to travel to London next week to finalize details of the plant.
Although the deal has yet to be signed, sources say the deal has now progressed towards drafting how the landmark deal will be presented.
The new development comes after the government recognized that the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries is urgently needed in the UK to secure the future of the industry.
The Tata group initially considered choosing Spain as the country to build the battery factory.
However, the expected decision to choose Somerset will be seen as a major achievement for the UK following Brexit.
Critics have also argued that the UK has struggled to attract investment of late, but with this new plant it is hoped it will open the door to new battery investment in the UK.
For Somerset in particular, the region’s access to electricity, skilled labor and the British heritage of Jaguar Land Rover’s brands were cited as reasons to help the British bid.
In March, Jeremy Hunt was asked to scrap a “road tax” for owners of electric cars who use public charging stations.
Electric vehicle (EV) drivers who use public charging stations pay 20% VAT on the electricity they use.
But the VAT rate applied to electricity when owners plug in their car at home is only 5%.
The disparity indeed penalizes those without their own driveway or garage, often hitting less well-off families in townhouses and apartments.
dailymail us
