US EV manufacturer Lucid Motors has joined with critical mineral producers Alaska Energy Metals, Graphite One, Electric Metals and RecycLiCo to launch the Minerals for National Automotive Competitiveness Collaboration (MINAC).

The consortium aims to help accelerate the development of domestic critical mineral resources and the procurement of minerals for use in automotive manufacturing by US-based automakers and Tier 1 suppliers.

The companies will work together to complete offtake agreements for critical minerals for use in US automobiles, identify and resolve barriers, accelerate commercialization and customer adoption, expand coordination between the mining and automotive sectors and support the qualification and procurement of domestically produced materials by US-based automakers and Tier 1 suppliers.

Alaska Energy Metals is developing a large-scale nickel project in the interior of Alaska. Electric Metals is developing its Emily manganese project in Minnesota. Graphite One is developing facilities to produce graphite in various locations across the US, including synthetic graphite in Ohio and natural graphite in Northern Alaska. Both of the sites are expected to start producing graphite by 2028. Lucid and Graphite One have previously announced agreements to supply these synthetic and natural graphite materials to Lucid once production begins.

RecycLiCo specializes in the use of advanced hydrometallurgical technologies for processing mined ore and the upcycling of lithium-ion battery materials. from end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap, supporting energy storage as well as broader industrial applications.

“Domestic supply chains strengthen manufacturing resilience, fortify sustainable supply chains, and accelerate job growth. Following in the footsteps of our previous agreements, today we are doubling down on our commitment to powering American innovation and look forward to working with our partners as we built the next generation of automotive manufacturing in the United States,” said Marc Winterhoff, Interim CEO of Lucid.

Source: Lucid