In one of the first deals to break China’s almost total grip on the global supply of battery metals, Tesla on Monday agreed to buy enough nickel from a Minnesota mine to equip about 1 million electric vehicles—roughly the same number of EVs it delivered to customers last year. The mine will also become one of the first U.S.-based sources of EV battery metals, a significant development as vehicle manufacturers try to move their supply chains closer to home.

The Electric Flash Analysis: Tesla Strikes First U.S. Nickel Deal, Increasing Its Battery Lead Over Ford, GM
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Jan. 10, 2022 6:17 PM PST
Photo: Exploration drilling at the Tamarack nickel deposit. Photo: Courtesy Talon Metals