The motorsport giant Ferrari is under fire this morning after confirming a joint venture with a Chinese state-backed electric vehicle manufacturer, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from union leaders and domestic automakers alike. The deal, which sources say involves technology sharing and potential production facilities in China, is seen by many as a betrayal of national industrial strategy at a time when the UK government is pushing for a homegrown battery supply chain.
Unite the union’s national officer for automotive, Steve Dawes, called the decision “a gut punch to British workers” who have long invested their skills and loyalty into the company. “Ferrari has a proud manufacturing history in the UK. To now turn to a Chinese partner for EV production threatens our own battery industry and the jobs of thousands,” he said.
Meanwhile, UK automakers including Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan are increasing pressure on Westminster to secure sovereign battery production capacity. With the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars looming, industry bodies warn that without domestic gigafactories, the UK will become a dumping ground for imported EVs and lose its competitive edge.
“The future of British motoring rests on our ability to produce batteries here, not just assemble cars from foreign components,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Every battery made in China or elsewhere chips away at our industrial base.”
Ferrari has defended its partnership, insisting it is necessary to access advanced battery technology and scale. However, critics point out that the company makes hundreds of millions in profit each year and could invest in domestic R&D. “This is a choice, not a necessity,” said Dawes. “A choice that puts shareholders before the national interest.”
The backlash comes as the Treasury considers tax breaks and subsidies for domestic battery projects, but sceptics argue that such measures will be too little, too late. With the UK having lost major battery investments to Hungary and Germany, the urgency is palpable.
Workers at a Coventry battery plant, who asked not to be named, told me they feel “sickened” by Ferrari’s move. “We’ve been told for years that the future is electric and British. Now our own companies go elsewhere. It makes our fight for decent wages and decent work even harder,” one said.
The government has so far remained silent on Ferrari’s decision, but Labour’s shadow business secretary criticised the lack of a clear industrial strategy. “We cannot allow iconic brands to decouple from our national projects. Sovereign battery production is not a luxury, it is a necessity for good jobs and regional equality,” they said.
For the thousands of families depending on the automotive supply chain, this is a stark reminder that the transition to EVs is not just about technology, but about protecting livelihoods. The price of bread in Coventry depends on the health of its factories. Ferrari’s deal today feels like another dent in that fragile economy.
