Tesla factory in Bridgend would be “opportunity to seriously kick start the electric car industry” in Wales – Plaid

The closing of Ford’s Bridgend site at the end of last year took nearly two thousand jobs

Choosing the site of the former Ford factory in Bridgend as the site of Tesla’s new UK factory could kick start the electric car industry in Wales, Plaid Cymru has said.

Plaid Cymru’s Economy Spokesperson, Luke Fletcher MS has today written to TESLA HQ to promote the old Ford factory as a potential site for their new UK factory.

In the letter, Mr Fletcher advocated for the work ethic and skill of the local workforce and testified to the “legacy of four decades of being home to a car manufacturing sector in Wales”, and noted that Tesla “would be hard placed to find a better site in the whole of the UK”.

Mr Fletcher said that it was an opportunity to “put Wales on the map as the place to build the cars of the future”, as well as to bring high skilled jobs to an area “devastated by the closure of Ford”.

Plaid Cymru’s Economy Spokesperson, Luke Fletcher MS said,

“We have a talented workforce here in Bridgend who have the skillset and experience to build cars – Tesla will be hard placed to find a more ideal location in the UK.

 “This could be an opportunity to seriously kick start the electric car industry here in Wales and put Wales on the map as the place to build the cars of the future. 

 “It’s also an opportunity to bring much needed high-skilled jobs to the area which was devastated by the closure of Ford, and boost the local economy.”