Another supply contract. The German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has just signed a contract with a Canadian mining company for the delivery of 10,000 tons of lithium per year from 2026. Enough to equip 150,000 electric vehicles: lithium is needed to make the batteries for these cars.
Renault in Morocco and Finland, Stellantis in Australia and the United States… Given the rise in metal prices for electric batteries, the risk of shortages or dependence on China for refining, manufacturers take the lead with long-term contracts with groups miners.
mining projects
Manufacturers are now ready to invest directly in mining projects: Stellantis has injected 50 million euros into Vulcan, a company that wants to produce geothermal lithium in Germany: Renault and Volkswagen are associated with it. General Motors has invested in a similar project in California, while Ford is a partner in a lithium mine project in Argentina.
Pioneer Tesla, which has already signed a dozen supply contracts, is also ready to pick up speed. Elon Musk recently confirmed that he wants to open his own lithium refining plant in Texas in 2024. A first for an automaker.
And soon contracts directly in France? The Imerys group announced this Monday the start of exploitation by 2027 of a lithium deposit in the Allier, which will be one of the largest in Europe.
Source: BFM TV
