UK’s biggest EV battery gigafactory shelves expansion as Jaguar Land Rover talks stall

Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars

• Andy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targets

The UK’s biggest gigafactory has shelved plans to expand production in Sunderland because of stalled talks on a deal to supply electric car batteries to Jaguar Land Rover.

Chinese-owned AESC produces batteries for Nissan at its gigafactory next door to the Japanese carmaker’s Sunderland plant. However, AESC has had to push back its ramp-up plans because of lower-than-expected demand from Nissan and the lack of a deal with JLR, according to people with knowledge of the situation.