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.
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, AESC’s 1.9 GWh lithium-ion battery plant and in 2025, the UK’s only at-scale Gigafactory becomes operational in the North East
- 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
- 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.
- An extensive portfolio of high-quality industrial development sites, all with easy access of transport infrastructure. The region’s £160m Investment Zone across four sites delivers tax incentives or flexible funding to forward fund infrastructure investment.
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.
There’s potential financial assistance through local grant incentives and Investment Zone benefits. The region can also provide support in accessing central government funding through the Global Britain Investment Fund.