The UK automotive industry could be set for another huge boost after plans were revealed for a 4.5 million square foot battery production facility in the heart of England.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is bidding for a share of the £500m which the government is keen to invest in the gigafactory infrastructure in the UK, and with Coventry well placed in the automotive geographical big picture, it is thought the proposals at Coventry Airport could attract investment.

“I have been utterly obsessed with securing a gigafactory for the West Midlands, due to the huge economic and job benefits it would bring,” said West Midlands mayor Andy Street. “And so I'm delighted we've announced our preferred site and taken a huge leap forward today.

“The point I have been ferociously lobbying to [the] government is that the West Midlands is the natural place for a UK gigafactory, as we're already home to the country’s biggest car manufacturer, Europe’s largest research centre, the UK’s only battery industrialisation centre and a world-leading supply chain.”

With Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, BMW and the London Electric Vehicle Company all on the doorstep of the Coventry development, it is hoped that the project could lead to as much as £2 billion of investment in the area and provide up to 4,000 jobs.

“Coventry has emerged as a world-leader in battery technology,” said Coventry City Council leader George Duggins. “The city is home to the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre [and] world-leading research institutions, and it’s clear to me that Coventry is the right location.

“Coventry Airport sits at the heart of this powerful automotive research cluster and is the obvious location for a UK gigafactory. Our joint-venture partnership is unique in the UK and creates a strong platform to attract investment and deliver more than 4000 new jobs, support our automotive sector and secure our competitive advantage.”

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