Fortescue expands battery, powertrain capacity in UK

Fortescue announced it will "significantly" expand battery and electric powertrain production operations in the UK, with a facility at Banbury, Oxfordshire, to manufacture zero-emission products for the off-road sector including trucks and trains.

The facility will form part of Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), the company's new global business housing the company's cleantech operations. It will start making prototypes later this year, and officially open next year.

Fortescue Chairman Andrew Forrest said the expansion was part of the Australian company's commitment to grow its footprint in Britain. "With Fortescue's investment, British engineering will be at the cutting edge of the green energy economy," Dr Forrest said.

In a release, FFI said the Banbury facility will operate alongside Fortescue's other Oxfordshire facilities including a factory at Kidlington, which will open later this year.

The unit will be a purpose-built facility that will primarily focus on manufacturing heavy industry, electric/ zero-emission powertrain systems. It will also offer automated assembly for battery modules and packs, assembly of power conversion and power systems, as well as truck and train production support.