How Hyperbat scaled High-Performance Battery Manufacturing in the West Midlands
As the shift towards electrification accelerates across the UK automotive industry, manufacturers face increasing pressure to integrate advanced battery technologies into vehicles shaped by complex performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.
However, with many battery production solutions originating from overseas suppliers, global manufacturers, including those in the UK, are becoming increasingly reliant on the consistency of global supply chains to meet required high-end manufacturing demands.
The Challenge
With disruptions to key international supply chains exposing commercial vulnerabilities, the dependency on imported components is resulting in high-performance UK manufacturers facing unpredictable production lead times, financial volatility and reduced control. Together, these constraints restrict the ability of domestic manufacturers to scale and innovate within a competitive EV market.
In response, Williams Advanced Engineering and Unipart Manufacturing Group formed Hyperbat, a UK-based battery manufacturer designed to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and scalable production, strengthening domestic capability and reducing reliance on overseas supply.
With the strength of the UK economy closely tied to the health of the automotive sector, leading manufacturers are increasingly seeking domestic partners to safeguard future production and drive innovation through competitive and controlled delivery models.
To capitalise on this opportunity, Hyperbat required more than technical expertise; it needed a strategic base that could provide access to a robust supply chain, a deep pipeline of skilled talent and a proven ecosystem of high-performance brands capable of supporting rapid industrialisation and sustained growth.
The Solution
In 2019, Hyperbat announced plans to open a multi-million-pound high-tech facility in Coventry, West Midlands.
For the firm, the West Midlands provided direct access to a concentration of automotive manufacturing capability, specialist supply chains and engineering talent, enabling Hyperbat to design, scale and deliver sustainable, high-performance battery systems more efficiently.
Hyperbat’s decision to locate in the West Midlands was further strengthened by its proximity to Aston Martin, which had agreed to become the firm’s first client and partner in developing battery technology for Aston Martin’s first fully electric supercar, the Rapide E.
We are delighted to be working with Williams Advanced Engineering on this venture. We have developed an advanced manufacturing facility on our Coventry site – the very site in which the British auto industry produced some of its first petrol vehicles.
It is fitting that this site will now provide clean, sustainable electric batteries that can be tailored to individual auto manufacturers’ requirements and available to a wide range of companies seeking to introduce electric vehicles into their ranges.
By locating close to strategic partners and manufacturing capability, Hyperbat reduced reliance on international suppliers, reducing risk and presenting high-performance manufacturers with greater control over production scheduling and quality assurance, accelerating time-to-market for electrified platforms.
The Impact
Following the launch of its Coventry facility, Hyperbat’s work on Aston Martin’s Rapide E concept quickly demonstrated the firm’s ability to deliver high-value electrification programmes from within the West Midlands’ dynamic automotive ecosystem.
This early success helped position Hyperbat as a trusted partner for high-performance EV programmes, leading to a landmark partnership with Lotus in 2022* to supply battery systems for the all-electric Lotus Evija – widely recognised as one of the world’s most powerful production cars.
Through regional engineering expertise, the company delivered advanced 90kWh lithium-ion battery packs for what became the first British-built all-electric hypercar – supporting performance targets of 0–62mph in under three seconds and a top speed exceeding 200mph.
With landmark projects delivered, Hyperbat’s growth led to the creation of 50 highly skilled jobs. The company’s operational growth has coincided with the developing skills base of the West Midlands workforce, where long-standing automotive skill sets are being increasingly deployed into electrification and low-carbon-led projects.
For growing firms like Hyperbat, access to the region’s highly skilled automotive talent and an established supply chain is reducing operational risk and providing stronger routes to market for innovative technologies.
In collaborating with the West Midlands automotive infrastructure and institutions, Hyperbat not only solidified and reinforced the UK’s domestic EV supply chain, but also augmented its capacity to innovate, develop and deliver high-performance electrification breakthroughs at scale.
Why the West Midlands
The West Midlands offers a deeply embedded automotive and mobility cluster, making it a natural location for businesses, like Hyperbat, to scale operations within a supportive and driven manufacturing ecosystem.
Located less than three miles from Coventry University, Hyperbat benefits from proximity to leading academic research, graduate talent, and collaborative innovation programmes. Close collaboration with institutions such as the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) provides on-site research support and strengthens the link between industrial application and academic innovation.
We are one of the few companies to have invested in this advanced manufacturing technology, which is enhanced by the research and development work carried out by the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, who offer on-site support to our R&D team and are a perfect example of Industry and Academia working in partnership.
This gives Hyperbat a digital advantage when it comes to highly complex battery manufacture for the world’s most demanding customers.
Strategic hubs like the Coventry & Warwick Investment Zone strengthen the region’s battery technology and energy storage capabilities, giving scaling businesses in the region access to globally recognised R&D assets, including the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre and Warwick Manufacturing Group, which support product development, testing and industrialisation.
The Future
Looking ahead, Hyperbat is focused on expanding its role in next-generation battery systems and supporting the transition to net-zero mobility.
In January 2026, Unipart took full ownership of Hyperbat after acquiring the remaining 50% shareholding in the company from its joint venture partner – securing and strengthening Hyperbat’s long-term commitment to electrification, advanced manufacturing and the industrialisation of low-carbon technologies within the West Midlands.
Bringing Hyperbat into full Unipart ownership allows us to build on a strong foundation, scale proven capability and continue supporting customers as they industrialise electrification and low-carbon technologies with confidence.
As demand for electrified vehicles grows, the company aims to scale its production capability, deepen collaborative partnerships and continue investing in advanced manufacturing technologies.
With the West Midlands positioning itself as a leader in UK electrification, Hyperbat’s proven track record is poised to play a significant role in strengthening domestic battery capability and accelerating the future of sustainable mobility.
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