Exxon Mobil is in talks with Tesla and other automakers to become a lithium supplier
The Carter Center
For years Elon Musk has been urging entrepreneurs to get into lithium mining. It appears someone was listening, but it's not a start-up. Exxon Mobil, the oil and gas giant and a name synonymous with the fossil fuel industry is reportedly engaged in early-stage discussions with Tesla and other automakers, including Ford and Volkswagen, to become a supplier of lithium.
Lithium is a key component in electric vehicle batteries. Tesla recently broke ground on its own lithium mining operation to address the critical element. Now that a major oil player is getting in the game, it signifies a significant shift in Exxon's strategic outlook as it embraces the inevitable transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
Harnessing Lithium: Exxon's Answer to EV Growth
A report from Bloomberg states that Exxon has been actively exploring the lithium business to diversify beyond fossil fuels. Its recent initiative involves the development of over 6,100 acres of lithium-rich land in Arkansas in partnership with Tetra Technologies Inc. The oil giant's strategic venture into the lithium sector underscores its commitment to securing the assets needed for EV battery production.
This move isn't merely a diversification strategy for Exxon; it presents a timely response to the meteoric rise of the EV sector. The increasing adoption of EVs has amplified the demand for lithium, posing a significant challenge to Exxon's core oil production and refining businesses. In turn, Exxon seeks to secure its position by harnessing a vital resource in this emerging market.
The company's entrance into the lithium market is not just about survival but also about leveraging its industry expertise for new business opportunities. Exxon has been considering extracting lithium from underground saltwater. This method aligns with the company's extensive experience in oil and gas extraction while also promising to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
A Turning Point in the Energy Landscape
While the details of the discussions remain confidential, Exxon's engagement with Tesla and other automotive heavyweights signals a remarkable convergence of interests. By teaming up with major automakers, Exxon is positioning itself as a critical link between traditional and renewable energy sectors. This cooperation could foster a mutually beneficial relationship that bridges the gap between these diverse energy domains, encouraging knowledge sharing and expediting the adoption of sustainable practices.
Though Exxon has yet to announce whether it will independently undertake lithium production or seek partnerships, its ambitious goal of extracting 100,000 tons of lithium annually attests to its commitment to becoming a significant player in the lithium business. The corporation is also reportedly in talks with other lithium market participants, including Albemarle Corp, further emphasizing its intent to become a leading figure in the EV revolution.
Exxon Mobil's potential collaboration with Tesla and other automakers represents more than a strategic pivot; it is an emblematic turning point in the energy landscape, marking an era where traditional oil companies and EV manufacturers might work hand-in-hand to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable future.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
Tesla has begun rolling out some map updates, including a brand new geographic area. These updates include two regional map updates, with one confirming Tesla’s entry into India and the other improving the maps in Europe.
Indian Launch
The biggest addition is a new map region for India, which was discovered by Tesla hacker Greentheonly. This move, while seemingly minor, is a prerequisite for Tesla launching vehicles in the region.
For years, discussions about Tesla’s arrival in India have focused on manufacturing plans, import duties, and retail store plans. However, the vehicles themselves must all be technically ready for the region.
This is more than just data entry; it involves integrating local points of interest, Tesla’s internal routing logic, and displaying regional road information correctly. In past market entries, Tesla has activated the necessary navigation regions in its software shortly before officially launching in a country, and just this morning, news broke that Tesla will open its first showroom in India.
On July 15th, Tesla will open its first showroom in Mumbai, marking its entry into the Indian market.
For those who have imported Tesla vehicles in advance of the official market entry, this means they will finally receive official maps and navigation support, and will likely begin receiving official software updates in the near future.
European Maps Update
In addition to the India map update, Tesla has also starting roll out a map update for Europe. The new map update for Europe is version EU-2025.14, bringing users up from EU-2025.2.
You’ll need to connect to WiFi in order to download map updates and similar to software updats, Tesla will roll them out gradually. If you want to learn more about map updates, be sure to check out our Tesla maps and navigaiton guide.
This map update will likely be fairly minor, but it should include newer roads, speed limits and more details. It could also include additional information that’s required for launching FSD in Europe.
While map updates aren’t as exciting as FSD updates or major software updates like the upcoming Grok AI update, they’re especially useful for Tesla owners who travel on new roads that may not be in Tesla’s current map version.
Tesla has officially scheduled its 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting for Thursday, November 6, 2025. The date was confirmed in an 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission this week. Shareholders can expect to begin receiving official notifications by email or letter this week.
While we don’t know what, if anything, is up for vote this year, shareholders should ensure their investment accounts are linked up at ir.tesla.com if they plan to vote on upcoming proposals.
While these meetings cover standard corporate governance, they’ve also become a key venue for Tesla to share updates on its future projects.
Let’s take a look back at Tesla’s 2024 shareholder meeting to see what we can expect for 2025.
A Look Back: Shareholder Meeting 2024
The 2024 Shareholder Meeting was packed with news and updates. Some of the highlights included details on Cybercab, the first mentions of AI5, and the move of Tesla’s incorporation to Texas following the re-ratification of Elon’s 2018 compensation plan.
The 2025 meeting may provide progress updates on several key items.
First up is the final status of Elon Musk’s pay package. While it was successfully re-ratified following the 2024 Meeting, the Court of Delaware ruled against it, creating a legal situation that resulted in Tesla amending its letter of incorporation and moving to Texas.
While the messy legal situation hasn’t been completely sorted out yet, there’s a chance we could see more on this at the 2025 Meeting.
Next up is a status update on the Robotaxi Network pilot, as well as progress for Tesla’s Cybercab program. We’ve seen early prototype castings for the Cybercab outside Giga Texas, and they recently provided an updated timeline in their 2024 Impact Report. This is going to be the next big step for Tesla’s growth as it starts its Robotaxi service business.
The Tesla Semi and Tesla Energy are also two massive programs undergoing upgrades and revamps. The volume production of Semi is supposed to begin by the end of 2025, and Tesla is constantly working on expanding Tesla Energy’s manufacturing footprint to meet the never-ending demand for Megapack and Powerwall. We’re anticipating some major updates here, along with some updates on Tesla’s next-generation battery tech, including the Gen 3 Cybercell that includes dry-cathode manufacturing.
There’s a lot to be excited about - and November 6th is the day we may find out a lot about Tesla’s future products. The meeting will be a big event that we’ll cover in detail, so don’t worry, even if you miss it. We’ll have a full set of recap notes and longer in-depth articles following the event, as usual.
_300w.png)
