Lucid Group Forms U.S. Battery Materials Alliance to Boost Domestic Production

Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group has announced a partnership with several key mineral producers in the U.S. to form the National Automotive Competitiveness Minerals Cooperative Program (MINAC). The alliance aims to accelerate the development and procurement of domestically sourced critical minerals needed for the U.S. automotive industry. Participants include Alaska Energy Metals, Graphite One, Electric Metals, and RecycLiCo. MINAC's established goals include promoting domestic mineral production through purchase agreements, identifying and addressing commercialization obstacles, enhancing collaboration between the mining and automotive industries, and supporting U.S. automakers and tier-one suppliers in certifying and procuring domestically produced materials. This initiative comes at a time when the automotive sector, particularly in the electric vehicle domain, faces increasing pressure to ensure a reliable and compliant supply of critical minerals such as rare earth elements, nickel, graphite, and manganese, which are essential components of lithium-ion batteries. The collaboration aims to reduce dependency on foreign supply chains, especially from China, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing capabilities. The participating mineral companies will leverage their expertise within the alliance for industry complementarity. Alaska Energy Metals, based in Anchorage, is developing a large nickel project, a key material for high-energy density batteries that help extend vehicle range. Electric Metals USA focuses on the Emily manganese mine project in Minnesota, where manganese is used to improve battery energy density, reduce costs, and enhance thermal stability. Graphite One is working on constructing graphite production facilities in Ohio and northern Alaska, with production expected to begin in 2028. RecycLiCo specializes in hydrometallurgical technology for processing ores and recycling lithium-ion battery materials, aiming to extract lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese for direct battery production. Concurrently, Lucid and its partners are holding a roundtable in Washington D.C. with several U.S. governors and congressional members, where Arizona Senator Mark Kelly expressed pride in Arizona hosting Lucid's advanced manufacturing plant and highlighted the importance of domestic material sourcing for electric vehicle production. He noted that such collaborations will strengthen the supply chain and create jobs in the U.S.