Tesla Breaks Ground on Lithium Refinery to Meet Ambitious EV Sales Targets

The move was necessary if the automotive giant is to achieve its ambitious sales targets for electric vehicles, CEO Elon Musk said.

The plant should produce enough battery metal to produce about 1 million electric vehicles by 2025, making it the largest producer of the material in North America.

“As we look forward several years, the fundamental brake point for electric vehicle development is the availability of lithium batteries,” Musk said at the plant’s groundbreaking ceremony.

Tesla plans to complete construction of the factory next year and reach full capacity in a year. This will make the company the only major automaker in North America to refine its lithium.