Tesla is planning to set up a battery plant in Batang in Central Java, Indonesia, with discussions between the carmaker and government underway, local media reported. The decision comes after Tesla’s founder Elon Musk urged miners to produce more nickel, a key ingredient used in batteries that power the company’s electric cars.
The country had banned nickel exports in 2020 to boost expansion of a local smelting industry. Tesla’s move could help Indonesia develop its global supply chain.
In addition to this, the company also intends to build a new venture for nickel in one of the South East Asian countries rich in mineral reserves.
The company looks to boost its 200GWh and 3 TWh batteries’ production capacity by 2030.