The Opportunity

Emerging as the UK leader in the electric vehicle (EV) and battery sectors, the North East is home to a rapidly growing cluster of manufacturing businesses leading the way in electrification. With all aspects of the supply chain located here, there are major opportunities for investment, innovation and collaboration.

Global OEMs located in the region include Nissan, Komatsu, Hitachi, Caterpillar, Liebherr and Cummins; all of whom are innovating and first adapters of electrification technologies.

In addition, the region has an established and globally competitive supply chain consisting of Tier 1 suppliers, T2-TN suppliers, a wealth of specialist SMEs and R&D centres plus a highly collaborative business support network.

The electrification sector in North East England is growing, as its global reputation as an EV hub strengthens.  With the construction of two new gigafactories (with a combined capacity of 60 GWh) and Nissan announcing the new all electric model will be built in the region, there are great advantages and opportunities for businesses looking to locate in North East England.

Be part of a thriving sector

North East England has a global reputation as a hub for electrification and advanced manufacturing. Why?

  • North East England produces 20% of all battery electric vehicles across Europe
  • The region is home to Europe’s first battery gigafactory, Envision AESC’s 1.9 GWh lithium-ion battery plant and home to Europe’s most successful EV, the Nissan LEAF
  • EV36Zero, a flagship Electric Vehicle Hub creating a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem, will be based in Sunderland.  EV36Zero will bring together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production, setting a blueprint for the future of the automotive industry
  • Nissan will invest up to £423 million to produce a new-generation all-electric vehicle in the UK, creating over 900 new jobs at the plant, and more than 4,500 in the UK supply chain
  • There are two further battery gigafactories in development, Britishvolt (30GWh) in Northumberland and Envision AESC (35GWh) in Sunderland, pledging over £3.75bn of new investment. Once operational, the gigafactories will employ over 4,000 highly skilled workers plus thousands more in the supply chain
  • An industrial electrification ecosystem across all forms of surface transportation with recent investments including Turntide Technologies: 3 cutting-edge companies that focus on the modernisation of motor systems throughout commercial transportation and Saietta Group, specialists in advanced e-mobility powertrains.

World-leading R&D

The region is home to a unique and comprehensive asset base for innovating and demonstrating solutions across the whole energy system. For the EV sector, these assets provide world-leading research and a powerful testbed for businesses to innovate.

North East England is already home to businesses engaged in leading-edge R&D linked to EV technology. These companies are world leaders in the manufacture of innovative EV products, including: AEM, Curtis Instrumental, MER, Saietta Group, Peak Resources and US tech giant Turntide Technologies, which recently acquired North East based Hyperdrive Innovation, Borg-Warner and Avid Technology.

Supporting your move

Highly collaborative and integrated partnerships in the North East ensure that an investment journey is supported throughout.

The public sector is development-friendly and there is a benign planning system to facilitate development of sites for key industries. For example, the gigafactory site at Cambois, Northumberland secured planning permission for its 2.7million sq ft facility in 16 weeks.

There’s potential financial assistance through local grant incentives and Enterprise Zone benefits.  The region can also provide support in accessing central government funding through the Global Britain Investment Fund.

Download our dedicated Electric North East brochure