Britain’s heavy reliance on China for net zero technologies such as batteries could put as many as 90,000 manufacturing jobs at risk in the event of a major supply chain shock, according to a new report.
Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns that a severe disruption to battery component supplies, lasting as little as a year, could cripple the UK’s automotive industry, sharply reducing electric vehicle production and threatening factory jobs across the country.
The report models a scenario in which geopolitical conflict, such as a crisis over Taiwan, or a natural disaster disrupts Chinese battery manufacturing and processing. In that event, UK battery and car production could fall by nearly half, with widespread knock-on effects across supply chains.
Researchers estimate that around 67,000 jobs in EV manufacturing, 8,000 in battery production and almost 15,000 roles across the wider battery supply chain would be placed at risk, taking the total to roughly 90,000 jobs.
The IPPR argues that China’s dominance of battery materials and components gives Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers a built-in advantage over UK and European rivals, particularly during periods of disruption.
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