The last few years have been extremely difficult for an industry that has long been regarded as a jewel in our industrial crown. Honda withdrew from Swindon, Tesla chose Berlin not Britain for its new plant, and BMW is moving production of its electric Mini to China.
But despite this, we must not fall behind in the global race to build batteries. The Faraday Institution contends that by 2040 we will need 10 gigafactories. We need to capitalise on this opportunity, or risk continuing to lose the automotive industry and its supply chain to global competitors.
The UK, the West Midlands and Coventry in particular has the opportunity to build on our strength in automotive research, design and manufacturing to transform ourselves into a home for clean tech, skilled jobs, and economic prosperity.
Here in Coventry we find ourselves at the vanguard. The West Midlands Gigafactory at Coventry Airport site is the first and the biggest Gigafactory site to get planning permission. We are home to the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, and enjoy close links with WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre at the University of Warwick.
And we have real strength in our existing industry partnerships with JLR, LEVC, Polestar and Geely; as well as education and skills partners.
But there is so much more to do. That is why I warmly welcome the announcement from the Business Committee to investigate UK electric vehicle battery production. I am sure their objective analysis and witness testimony will set out a vision for industry, investors and government to maximise this opportunity.
Coventry City Council will be making a submission by the 14 February deadline, and I would urge all economic partners from industry; academia and the wider supply chain to make representations to ensure our voice is heard.
While we have identified a site, and secured planning permission, there are still barriers to securing investment. Subsidies are always key to kickstarting investment in fledgling industries; as well as securing a highly skilled workforce. These are the types of issues we will explore further in our submission.
The automotive sector is a global industry, and boardrooms are making investment decisions that could fundamentally impact the future industry. Against the global headwinds we face, there is a real risk that unless we realise the potential of home-grown battery technology, manufacturers move car production abroad.
With our vision at Coventry City Council, we stand ready to translate that into an opportunity for prosperity, and we will continue to make the case for the West Midlands Gigafactory."
Business Committee Link: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/365/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/news/175490/business-committee-opens-uk-electric-vehicle-battery-production-inquiry/
Andy Williams
Director of Business, Investment & Culture
Coventry City Council
