Lucid Group, a pioneer an electric vehicles, announced a strategic collaboration with leading critical mineral producers-Alaska Energy Metals, Graphite One, Electric Metals, and RecycLiCo-to accelerate the development and sourcing of U.S.-based critical minerals for the nation’s growing EV manufacturing sector.
Together, these organizations have formed the Minerals for National Automotive Competitiveness Collaboration (MINAC), a new alliance focused on strengthening America’s automotive supply chain through domestic mineral production and innovation. This initiative aims to secure essential raw materials-like nickel, manganese, graphite, and recycled battery metals-critical for EV battery technologies and sustainable manufacturing.
MINAC Partner Highlights
Alaska Energy Metals is spearheading development of a major nickel project in Alaska’s interior. Nickel plays a key role in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, improving EV range and performance while reducing reliance on less sustainable materials.
Electric Metals USA is advancing the high-grade Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota. Manganese improves battery thermal stability and reduces costs, making it a key material in cathode chemistry for long-range, high-efficiency EVs.
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Graphite One is building out both synthetic and natural graphite production in the U.S., with major sites in Ohio and northern Alaska expected to be operational by 2028. Lucid previously announced offtake agreements with Graphite One for future graphite supply.
RecycLiCo uses advanced hydrometallurgical technology to extract battery-grade lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from end-of-life batteries and manufacturing waste, supporting circular supply chains and clean-tech growth.
Voices from MINAC Leadership and Supporters
Marc Winterhoff, Interim CEO of Lucid:
“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 build the next generation of automotive manufacturing in the United States.”
Gregory Beischer, President & CEO of Alaska Energy Metals:
“By developing resilient automotive supply chains, we establish commercially viable mining operations that also help strengthen the American Defense Industrial Base. Sourcing minerals domestically enables better regulatory oversight, higher environmental standards, metal source traceability, and responsible sourcing. This approach mitigates harmful environmental and human rights risks often associated with foreign mining operations and provides an opportunity to improve the livelihoods of American communities.”
Brian Savage, CEO of Electric Metals (USA) Limited:
“We are honored to join MINAC in advancing a secure and resilient 100% domestic supply chain for critical minerals. As the developer of the highest-grade manganese deposit in North America, located in Emily, Minnesota, Electric Metals is committed to establishing a domestic source of high-purity manganese products essential to the U.S. electric vehicle, battery, and defense industries. With no current domestic production of manganese, our project addresses a critical vulnerability in the nation’s supply chain. This collaboration is a strategic step toward reducing reliance on foreign sources and strengthening U.S. industrial and energy security.”
Anthony Huston, CEO of Graphite One, Inc:
“Graphite One is pleased to be partnered with Lucid via supply chain offtake agreements for both synthetic and natural graphite. With MINAC representing domestic developers of the essential rechargeable battery materials and Lucid as an end-user, this agreement marks a significant step towards creating the fully U.S.-based supply chain that is an indispensable element of U.S. energy dominance.”
Richard Sadowsky, CEO of RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc.:
“RecycLiCo is proud to work alongside Lucid and our fellow MINAC collaborators, advancing our shared commitment to robust, sustainable, and secure, domestic supply chains for critical minerals. We are actively seeking opportunities to leverage our advanced hydrometallurgical process to efficiently recover high-purity lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from end-of-life batteries, manufacturing scrap, and newly mined ore to help shape a future-ready critical-minerals industry.”