Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla source nickel for electric vehicle batteries from mines linked to deforestation of primary rainforest on indigenous lands in Indonesia, according to analysis by The Guardian.
The mines operate in Sulawesi, which contains the world's largest nickel deposits and is inhabited by the Tolaki people. Corporate disclosures and trade data from the past two years connect battery supply chains of these carmakers to tree loss in the region, which is also a wildlife hotspot.
Nickel is a key component in battery cathodes because it increases energy density and driving range. The finding illustrates the tension between the environmental goals of electric vehicle production and the real-world impacts of mining operations that feed that supply chain.
The Guardian did not specify how much nickel from the affected mines reaches each carmaker, or provide details on whether Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla were aware of the deforestation link or have taken steps to address it. The analysis draws on publicly available corporate disclosures and international trade records rather than new investigation into the mines themselves.