Closure of Britishvolt strikes a blow for UK car production

BRITISHVOLT – the UK start-up that promised to build a £3.8billion gigafactory in the north east of England – has entered administration. The majority of the company’s circa 300 staff are expected to be laid off.

The news is a blow to the UK automotive industry, with Britishvolt seen as a landmark project to boost the country’s production of EV components. The project secured additional funding in November 2022, but the board has now decided that there’s no way to continue.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has previously emphasised that the UK needs several gigafactories to ensure the future success of its automotive industry as petrol and diesel are phased out

The factory, in Blyth, Northumberland, had been a key part of the Government’s ‘levellingup’ policy commitments under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, proposing that it could produce up to 300,000 batteries a year Incorporated in late 2019, Britishvolt originally planned for production of batteries to begin at the factory in late 2024 In August, the company announced that this would be delayed until the middle of 2025.

■ P114 Rutherford on Britishvolt’s failure