Bentley Motors secures £5.6 million government investment in electric vehicle batteries

A project consortium led by Bentley Motors has been selected to receive £5.6 million in funding through the Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification 2035 (DRIVE35) programme, subject to due diligence and contracting.

Investment will support over 1,800 high-value manufacturing jobs delivering on the Prime Minister’s mission for good growth in every postcode.

Almost £65m of government funding, matched by industry, will drive cutting-edge zero-emission projects, from self-driving cars to more affordable EVs.

Modern Industrial Strategy is bringing business and science together to drive British innovation, boost reindustrialisation and cement the UK’s leading role in advanced manufacturing.

BRITAIN’S automotive sector is set to benefit from nearly £130 million of investment to ramp up cutting-edge new zero emission vehicle technologies and support skilled jobs nationwide as the government focuses on delivering good growth in every postcode.

Delivered through the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, the funding will support over 1,800 jobs – and thousands more in the supply chain – across the UK.

DRIVE35 is a £4 billion UK Government programme that supports the transition to zero-emission vehicle technologies and forms a core part of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan and Industrial Strategy. It provides targeted funding to businesses from early-stage innovation through to commercialisation and manufacturing scale-up.

This R&D project brings together IONETIC’s battery technology and Bentley’s engineering expertise to develop flexible battery systems for future electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The project will support Bentley’s transition to electrification while helping project partner IONETIC grow as a UK battery supplier and strengthen domestic manufacturing capability.

Connor Naismith MP said: “It’s fantastic news that a project led by Bentley Motors has been named as a recipient of the DRIVE35 electrification programme.

“The programme signals significant investment to develop flexible battery systems for future electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It shows that Labour is serious about reindustrialisation.

“This investment bolsters battery manufacturing in the UK, supporting both environmental sustainability and economic resilience. It is part of a £130 million investment in zero emission technologies, supporting over 1,800 high-value manufacturing employment opportunities – creating local jobs in clean transport.”