#United States #Newark #electric vehicles #Critical Minerals #Lucid Group

Lucid Group Enhances U.S. EV Supply Chains with New Collaboration

On July 23, 2025, Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), known for its innovative electric vehicles, unveiled its latest initiative to strengthen the domestic supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in the U.S. The company has formed a collaboration called the Minerals for National Automotive Competitiveness Collaboration (MINAC) alongside esteemed partners, including Alaska Energy Metals, Graphite One, Electric Metals, and RecycLiCo. This significant partnership aims to boost the production of essential minerals that are critical to the automotive industry.

Aims of the MINAC Initiative

The MINAC initiative has key goals focused on advancing mineral production and enhancing operational efficiency within the automotive sector. Here’s a closer look at its objectives:

1. Domestic Mineral Production: The collaboration seeks to expedite the completion of offtake agreements for American critical minerals, thereby reinforcing the foundations of the U.S. automotive supply chain.

2. Removing Barriers: MINAC will work to identify obstacles within the supply chain and will develop strategies to accelerate both commercialization and customer adoption of domestic materials.

3. Sector Coordination: The collaboration will foster enhanced cooperation between the mining and automotive industries, ensuring a seamless integration into the EV manufacturing process.

4. Support for U.S. Automakers: The partners will assist in the qualification and acquisition of locally produced materials by U.S.-based automakers and Tier 1 suppliers.

Key Players in the Collaboration

The partners involved in this transformative initiative bring a wealth of knowledge and resources to the table:

• - Alaska Energy Metals is spearheading the development of a significant nickel project in Alaska. Nickel is a vital element in lithium-ion batteries, enabling higher energy density and enhanced performance in electric vehicles.

• - Electric Metals USA is currently working on the Emily manganes project in Minnesota. Manganese is crucial for improving battery energy density and safety, making it a necessary component for long-range EVs.

• - Graphite One is developing sites for synthetic and natural graphite production across various U.S. locations. With planned output starting by 2028, Graphite One is poised to be a pivotal supplier in the EV supply chain.

• - RecycLiCo specializes in advanced processes for recovering critical minerals from spent batteries, contributing to the sustainable sourcing of materials needed for EV manufacturing.

Event Launching the Initiative

To mark the launch of MINAC, Lucid and its partners hosted a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C., with several notable political figures in attendance, including Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Arizona Representatives Nick Begich and Andy Biggs. The event focused on the importance of domestic supply chains and how they enhance U.S. economic resilience and security.

Remarks from Industry Leaders

Various leaders associated with the MINAC initiative provided insights into the implications of this collaboration:
Marc Winterhoff, Interim CEO of Lucid, expressed that