Key Points
- Japanese technology manufacturer Astemo announces a £100 million investment to expand its factory in Horwich, Bolton.
- The investment will create and safeguard around 220 new high-skilled manufacturing jobs.
- A new production line for electric vehicle (EV) inverters to be established, supported by the UK Automotive Transformation Fund.
- This follows a substantial new contract win for Astemo and a mayoral trade mission to Japan by Greater Manchester officials.
- Astemo becomes the only UK manufacturer with domestic capability to produce EV inverters at this scale.
- Across reports, comments and statements were made by Mayor Andy Burnham, Cllr Bev Craig, Cllr Nick Peel, Jonathan Reynolds MP, and key figures in MIDAS and the Automotive Transformation Fund.
- The move is seen as a major vote of confidence in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and the wider UK automotive sector.
- The government regards this as a key milestone in efforts to decarbonise the automotive industry and drive the UK towards net zero by 2050.
- The deal highlights Greater Manchester’s status as the leading UK destination for foreign direct investment outside London.
- The project sets the stage for further partnerships and investment between UK and Japan in advanced manufacturing.
Japanese manufacturer Astemo has committed to a £100 million investment that will transform its Horwich factory in Bolton, marking a new era for Greater Manchester’s position in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. The significant expansion, underpinned by the UK’s Automotive Transformation Fund, is expected to create and safeguard 220 skilled jobs, placing the region at the forefront of domestic EV technology manufacturing.
What are the details of Astemo’s investment in Horwich?
As reported by the editorial team at Prolific North, Astemo, a global leader in automotive technology, will be expanding its Horwich facility in Bolton with a £100 million investment, facilitated in part by support from the UK government through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF). The initiative comes in the wake of Greater Manchester’s mayoral trade mission to Japan and signals a substantial new contract win for the company.
According to GM Business Board and Invest in Manchester, this expansion will see the introduction of a new production line dedicated to manufacturing inverters for electric vehicles, making Astemo the sole company in the UK with such a high-value manufacturing capability.
How many jobs will the investment create and safeguard?
Astemo’s move will create and safeguard around 220 high-skilled manufacturing roles, directly supporting hundreds more jobs within Greater Manchester’s growing EV and advanced manufacturing cluster.
As highlighted on Fundz.net, the investment aims both to grow the workforce and reinforce existing positions, offering increased economic stability and opportunity in Horwich and the wider area.
What is the significance for Greater Manchester and the UK automotive sector?
The project is widely regarded as a defining moment for Bolton and Greater Manchester. As reported by the editorial team at Invest in Manchester and GM Business Board, this new line will be unique in the UK, providing a strategic boost to the region’s automotive sector and showcasing Manchester as a centre for innovation and international trade.
The expansion underscores Greater Manchester’s reputation as the UK’s leading destination for foreign direct investment outside London, thanks in part to consistent international engagement and trade relationships, particularly with Japan.
What support has the government provided, and why?
According to the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), funding has been granted to Astemo via the Department for Business and Trade’s ATF as part of a broader strategy to decarbonise UK transport, secure the future of the domestic automotive industry, and advance towards net zero by 2050. The investment is also part of a larger £2.5 billion automotive investment package intended to boost UK manufacturing, as detailed by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at APC, told APC News on 13 July 2025:
“This substantial investment by Astemo into its well-established Bolton site is a fantastic vote of confidence in the UK’s capability and competitiveness in this high value manufacturing area. Inverter systems are high value and high-tech parts of zero emission vehicles, and vital in delivering energy-efficient vehicles”.
The government’s support aims to anchor next-generation automotive technology in the UK, securing long-term economic growth and safeguarding the country’s global competitiveness.
What have Greater Manchester leaders said about the investment?
Multiple sources, including Prolific North, GM Business Board, and Invest in Manchester, report that local leaders have emphatically welcomed the announcement.
- As cited by the editorial team at Prolific North, Mayor Andy Burnham stated:
“This investment by Astemo is a huge vote of confidence in Bolton and Greater Manchester. It puts our city-region at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution, creating high-quality, long-term jobs and opportunities in our advanced manufacturing sector… Their long-term commitment to Greater Manchester was clear and they will have our full backing as they look to grow over the coming years”.
- Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and portfolio lead for the economy, said:
“Greater Manchester's economy continues to go from strength to strength, with the new investment from Astemo demonstrating the confidence international businesses have in our city-region, as well as the real economic value being created by our long-term engagement with Japan”.
- Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, commented:
“This is fantastic news for Bolton, which will create hundreds of jobs in Horwich, and ensure a new production line to manufacture inverters for electric vehicles… Investments like this create a renewed sense of excitement and confidence in the borough that will attract further investment”.
- Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, said:
“This substantial investment from Astemo creates real opportunities for our city-region. With over £100m in confirmed investment supporting 220 jobs, we're seeing the tangible benefits of our international partnerships, with Astemo being a prime example”.
What was the role of international trade missions and partnerships?
The expansion is a direct consequence of Greater Manchester’s approach to international engagement. As reported by Prolific North and GM Business Board, Mayor Burnham and Cllr Craig met with Astemo leadership during a recent trade mission to Japan, which helped cement the relationship and inspire confidence for this investment.
Mayor Burnham highlighted the importance of these missions:
“We are proud that our international engagement has made Greater Manchester the number one UK destination for foreign direct investment outside London. Japanese companies like Astemo have found a genuine partner in our-city region and our growing reputation for innovation is increasingly making us the natural choice for international businesses who want to grow”.
What has been said by other government and industry leaders?
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP, as reported across Prolific North and GM Business Board, stated:
“Astemo investing over £100 million into its UK site is a huge win for Bolton and Greater Manchester and a vote of confidence in our Plan for Change. It will create and safeguard more than 200 jobs, putting more money in local people’s pockets. We’re helping British auto manufacturers get to the front of the pack by working hand in hand with investors to build a globally competitive zero-emission vehicle supply chain in the UK… Security for working people is our number one priority, and by backing our world leading auto sector we are creating the right conditions for increased investment, bringing growth, jobs, and opportunities to every part of the UK”.
Julian Hetherington of APC added on behalf of the ATF:
“Anchoring this strategic investment in the UK is central to the objectives of the Automotive Transformation Fund and represents a key milestone in support of the UK’s Industrial Strategy”.
What wider impact could the investment have?
Industry analysts and regional leaders agree that Astemo’s move is likely to spur further growth in the automotive supply chain, attract more inward investment, and inspire additional partnerships between the UK and Japanese companies. The new facility for inverter production will serve as a catalyst for innovation and offer resilience to the UK’s efforts to build a competitive, zero-emissions vehicle technology sector.
According to the Department for Business and Trade, such investments are part of the government’s broader strategy to retain high-value manufacturing capabilities within the UK and sustain leadership in automotive technology amid global competition.
How have the local community and stakeholders responded?
As covered by multiple news sources, the investment has instilled a “renewed sense of excitement and confidence” in Bolton, stimulating positive sentiment among local businesses, the workforce, and the broader community.
With Manchester’s economy valued at about £80 billion annually, coverage by GM Business Board noted that the region provides the ideal foundation for international firms such as Astemo to expand operations and align with the UK's sustainability ambitions.
What are the next steps for the Astemo Horwich factory?
Astemo has already begun preparations for installing its new inverter production line. This strategic move not only follows its new contract award but also lays the groundwork for future expansion and the potential to manufacture more advanced vehicle systems domestically.
The development also paves the way for enhanced expertise in high-value green technologies and demonstrates how cross-border collaboration can anchor global innovation in the UK.