Efforts to develop the automotive industry in Wales have suffered another blow after the company, which wanted to build the first large British battery factory for electric vehicles, abandoned its plans at the expense of a new location in northern England, writes The Guardian.
The startup Britishvolt announced that it has received exclusive rights to a coastal location in Blythe, Northumberland, after it became clear that the construction of the previously selected location in Wales will not be able to begin before the summer of 2021.
The decision comes the same week that Ineos, run by Brexit-backing billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, confirmed it would manufacture its new car in France.
The richest Briton and supporter of Brexit exports his car business to France
Ineos’ Grenadier SUV will be produced in a former Mercedes plant, not in a new facility in Wales
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The news is bad for South Wales, where thousands of potential new jobs were hoped for. At the same time, Ford announced that it would close its engine plant there at the end of the year.
Britishvolt and the Welsh government said the decision was taken by mutual agreement. The company hopes to go public in the first half of 2021, and plans hope that the first batteries will be produced within three years.
The startup wants to raise £ 2.6 billion for the plant, which will create 3,000 jobs and supply batteries to car plants in the UK.
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