Street heads East in gigafactory race

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has been to China to meet potential gigafactory investors as part of the WMCA’s plans to build a major battery production plant in the West Midlands.

The WMCA, spearheaded by Street, says it is pushing to make sure the UK’s first gigafactory is built in the West Midlands.

As part of the region’s ambition to win the race to have the first gigafactory built in the West Midlands, Street visited potential investors in China as part of a regional visit to the country.

Street was joined on the trip by representatives from across the West Midlands, including Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward.

The Mayor said: “It is no secret that the new Government will soon have to make a decision on where the UK’s first gigafactory is going to be built. Location is everything when making such monumental decisions in industrial investment, and it is crucial that the West Midlands wins this argument.

“I believe, as the heartland of the UK’s automotive industry, that our region is the rightful home for a gigafactory. Employing more than 46,500 people, the West Midlands has an automotive cluster that features innovation centres, research centres, autonomous vehicle test beds, and major production plants.

“It was great to meet potential investors in China to discuss what more the West Midlands needs to do to attract a facility of this size. The WMCA and I will now continue to lobby government extensively to make sure we win the gigafactory race.”