AESC CEO Shoichi Matsumoto in front of the steel frame of AESC’s new gigaplant First Pillar ceremony.Sunderland City Council’s Executive Director of City Development speaking at the ceremonySouth Tyneside Cllr Margaret Meling and Sharon Hodgson MP signing the First PillarSir James Wates CBE, Chairman, Wates Group, Peter McIntyre, Executive Director of City Development, Sunderland City Council and Shoichi Matsumoto, AESC CEOWork well underway on the giant steel frame that will house the UK’s biggest gigaplantAESC CEO tightens the bolts of the ‘First Pillar’Sharon Hodgson MP, Sir James Wates CBE and AESC CEO Shoichi Matsumoto at the First PillarThe first pillar bolt is tightened to signal the start of construction on AESC’s second Sunderland Electric Vehicle Gigafactory, having supplied electric vehicle batteries since 2012. The new 12GWh factory will increase production capacity six fold and safeguard over 1,000 jobs.