Environment · 2026-10-17 · Morning briefing
Carmakers' battery nickel linked to Indonesian deforestation
An analysis has linked the supply chains of Volkswagen, Ford, and Tesla to the deforestation of primary rainforest in Indonesia. The nickel mining operations are located on lands inhabited by the indigenous Tolaki people. The metal is a key component in the batteries used for the companies' electric vehicles.
The investigation traced nickel ore from the Cahaya and Hengjaya mines through regional smelters to Chinese processing plants run by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. This cathode manufacturer supplies both CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, and the South Korean group LG. Both firms are known to provide battery products to western carmakers.
The connection complicates the environmental branding of electric vehicles, tying their production directly to the destruction of indigenous woodlands for essential raw materials.
Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.
Read the sources
- Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands
- Ford EV Battery Supply Chain Responsible For Major Deforestation
- Investors push for action to end deforestation and human rights risks in nickel mining
- Global Nickel Market Strategic Analysis, Size, Share, and Forecast, 2026-2031 | EV Battery Demand, Indonesian Supply Growth, and Low-Carbon Nickel Reshape Investment Priorities
- Indonesia cuts nickel pricing formula as EV battery producers get cost relief
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