Ford to invest £230million transforming UK hub into electric car battery plant
FORD is to invest £230million transforming one of its UK hubs into a battery plant for electric cars and vans.
Bosses aim to make 250,000 EV power units a year at Halewood from mid-2024 in a move that could protect 500 jobs and create another 700.
The Merseyside plant will be the car giant’s first all-electric site in Europe which it hopes can be used as a springboard for future vehicles sold there.
Ford’s Europe boss Stuart Rowley said: “This is an important step.
“It strengthens further our ability to deliver 100 per cent of Ford passenger vehicles in Europe being all-electric and two-thirds of our commercial vehicle sales being all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.”
The Government has backed the move which Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng hailed as “further proof” of the UK’s credentials as a centre for high-quality car manufacture.
He said: “Today’s announcement, backed by government funding, is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s economic future and our plans to ramp up electric vehicle production.”
Ford is one of the UK’s largest exporters.
Overseas sales to 15 countries generate £2.5billion a year.
Join The Sun's 'Green Team' & save the planet
MAKING simple everyday changes can add up to a BIG difference to the planet.
And we want you and your family to join The Sun's Green Team - our eco revolution.
It can feel overwhelming to know how to play a part in reducing greenhouse gasses, but we will be showing you the practical steps we can take to curb climate change - with the help of the global ‘Count Us In’ initiative.
And our easy measures will even help you SAVE money so your household budget goes further.
We'll help you to reduce food waste, insulate your home, create tasty planet-friendly meals and take simple steps to trim your carbon footprint.
We want you to go online to sign-up to as many of our special Green Team pledges as you can manage and a special calculator will show you how much carbon you will personally save.
It won’t cost you a penny but the total you and your family will save will be added to the global ‘Count Us In’ total and the platform will support you every step of the way.
So tap here to pledge.