Williams and Unipart form new UK vehicle battery manufacturer

The joint venture, Hyperbat Limited, will see a high-tech manufacturing facility open on the site of a former Unipart exhaust plant in early 2019 that will produce batteries for future hybrid and electric vehicles and create around 90 new jobs. The first customer for batteries produced at the facility will be Aston Martin, which will be using the products on its limited production run Rapide E.

The company pulls together WAE’s expertise in electrifying vehicles (which includes developing the batteries for Formula-E) and Unipart’s automotive manufacturing, logistics and supply experience.

Commenting on the alliance, Craig Wilson, Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering said: “Today marks a proud day as we bring together two innovative companies to deliver cutting edge technology that will literally power the future of sustainable transport in the UK and beyond.”

He added that the facility will provide a secure future supply chain for UK-based car-makers as their vehicles transition to electric power and that it also has the potential to provide similar solutions to projects in the marine and aerospace sectors.