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Tesla locks in world’s largest cobalt supplier Glencore for Gigafactory Shanghai, Berlin
Tesla has secured a deal to purchase 12 million pounds of cobalt annually from Glencore, a Swiss-based company that is recognized as the world’s largest miner of the metal. The partnership will keep Tesla away from a possible supply squeeze of cobalt as more automakers aim to break into the EV sector in the future.
The deal will supply both Giga Shanghai and Giga Berlin with enough of the metal to avoid a shortage in the future. With the electric vehicle sector continuing to grow, and demand for Tesla vehicles expanding in both Europe and Asia, the company has struck a deal that will alleviate any supply shortage concerns in the coming years.
The terms of the deal are unknown, and neither company responded to inquiries from Bloomberg, which first reported the partnership between the electric car maker and the cobalt supplier.
In both China and Europe, popular automakers like Volkswagen, BMW, and BYD are preparing for a future with electric transportation. In 2017 and 2018, a shortage in cobalt caused prices to spike, which seems to have given Tesla CEO Elon Musk the indication that his company must begin developing a battery that was less reliant on the metal. While Tesla continues to work on battery cells that are free of cobalt, the deal with Glencore ensures that the electric car maker will not be in short supply in the foreseeable future.
Tesla had been discussing the terms of a deal with Glencore since mid-January. However, Glencore’s automotive supply chain goes past the Silicon Valley-based automaker. The company signed an agreement with BMW in April 2019, and also with Korean battery manufacturer SK Innovation in December 2019.
Tesla is looking to ramp up production outside of the United States as demand continues to increase across the globe. With the company planning to begin a steady push of the Model Y in Europe and Asia in 2021, Tesla’s battery supply chain must be efficient and dependable to ensure a steady flow of reliable electric vehicles.
Giga Shanghai is currently producing vehicles at a run-rate of 200,000 a year, with production expected to increase when Tesla completes phase 2A of the facility. The completion of the second phase in China will introduce the Model Y to the largest automotive market in the world.
Meanwhile, Giga Berlin is still roughly a year away from its initial production push, which will begin with the Model Y. However, Tesla anticipates an annual production rate of 500,000 electric cars per year.
Tesla recently expanded on its use of cobalt within its battery cells in the 2019 Impact Report. The company currently utilizes “nickel-rich cathode materials” in its cells, which contain less cobalt concentration than cathode chemistries that other companies use in their batteries.
The company also expanded on its practices of using cobalt, which is controversial on its own due to its mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Glencore owns a mine in the DRC, but it is currently closed for maintenance. Tesla’s suppliers are required to follow the company’s “Supplier Code of Conduct” and its “Human Rights and Conflict Minerals Policy.” Each of Tesla’s suppliers is subjected to an annual third-party to ensure safe and humane mining practices.
Tesla’s deal with Glencore will ensure safe and humane cobalt mining, but it will also ensure the company’s long-term success as production and demand for continue to rise. The electric automaker will undoubtedly let go of any concern that may have to do with supply shortages while the industry continues to grow amid more competition entering the sector.
Elon Musk appeared on the Moonshots podcast with Peter Diamandis today to discuss AGI, U.S. vs. China, Tesla, and some other interesting topics, but there was some discussion about the upcoming unveiling of the Roadster, the company’s electric supercar that will arrive several years after it was initially slated for release.
Musk made some pretty amazing claims about the Roadster; we already know it is supposed to be lightning-fast and could even hover, if Tesla gets everything to happen the way it wants to. However, the car has some pretty crazy capabilities, some of which have not even been revealed.
On the podcast, Musk said:
“This is not a…safety is not the main goal. If you buy a Ferrari, safety is not the number one goal. I say, if safety is your number one goal, do not buy the Roadster…We’ll aspire not to kill anyone in this car. It’ll be the best of the last of the human-driven cars. The best of the last.”
🚨 Elon on the Roadster unveiling, scheduled for April 1:
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 6, 2026
Musk makes a good point: people who buy expensive sports cars with ridiculous top speeds and acceleration rates do not buy them to be safe. They hope they are safe in case of an emergency or crash, but safety is not at the forefront of their thoughts, because nobody buys a car thinking they’ll crash it.
The Roadster is truly going to push the limits and capabilities of passenger vehicles; there’s no doubt about that. Tesla plans to show off the new version car for the first time on April 1, and Musk has only hinted at what is possible with it.
Musk said back in November:
“Whether it’s good or bad, it will be unforgettable. My friend Peter Thiel once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars. I think if Peter wants a flying car, he should be able to buy one…I think it has a shot at being the most memorable product unveiling ever. [It will be unveiled] hopefully before the end of the year. You know, we need to make sure that it works. This is some crazy technology in this car. Let’s just put it this way: if you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that.”
Production is set to begin between 12 and 18 months after the unveiling, which would put the car out sometime in 2027. Hopefully, Tesla is able to stay on track with the scheduling of the Roadster; many people have been waiting a long time for it.
News
Tesla launches hiring for Robotaxi program in its twentieth country
Overall, the hiring signals Tesla’s aggressive timeline for global dominance in autonomous mobility.
Tesla has launched a hiring initiative for its Robotaxi program in its twentieth country, as the company posted two new jobs in Thailand this week.
Tesla is hiring in Bangkok and Kowloon for the Vehicle Operator position, which is related to data collection, and is the first in Thailand, but the twentieth country overall, as the company tries to expand into other markets.
🚨 BREAKING: Tesla is hiring additional full-time Vehicle Operators in Bangkok, Thailand.
Previous openings were 6-month, part-time roles. These are equivalent to AI Safety Operator roles in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/R6LzoU1bos— Tesla Yoda (@teslayoda) January 5, 2026
Tesla has had active job postings for Vehicle Operator positions in the United States, India, Israel, Taiwan, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the UK, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Norway, Italy, and Turkey in past listings.
These postings are not all currently available, likely because the roles have been filled.
Thailand is the most recent, and broadens the company’s potential path to expanding its ride-hailing program, which is only active in the United States in Austin, Texas, and the California Bay Area, so far.
These roles typically involve data collection, which assists in improving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving operation. Tesla’s self-driving programs utilize real-world data that is accumulated and stored, observing vehicle and traffic behavior, as well as tendencies that are performed by human drivers to help increase safety and overall performance.
Overall, the hiring signals Tesla’s aggressive timeline for global dominance in autonomous mobility. Although the company has several high-profile rivals and competitors in the field, it has established itself as a main player and a leader in the development of autonomous technology, especially in the U.S., as its FSD suite is refined on almost a weekly basis.
The Full Self-Driving suite is available in seven countries and territories currently, including the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand. Its biggest goal for expansion is currently the European market, where regulatory hurdles have been the main bottleneck prolonging its launch on the continent.
Tesla has performed months of testing in various European countries, including France and Spain, and does have support in some areas from various regulatory agencies. However, the company is hoping to get through this red tape and offer its suite in Europe for the first time, hopefully this year.
News
Tesla China rolls out Model Y upgrades, launches low-interest financing
These strategies are aimed at improving the ownership experience and keeping vehicle pricing competitive in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
Tesla has rolled out minor updates to the five-seat Model Y in China, upgrading the vehicle’s center display to a higher-resolution 16-inch 2K screen. The electric vehicle maker also introduced attractive financing options, including 7-year low-interest rates, to offset the new purchase tax on EVs.
These strategies are aimed at improving the ownership experience and keeping vehicle pricing competitive in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
Five-seat Model Y gets larger, better display
With its recent update, all three variants of the five-seat Model Y now feature an upgraded 16-inch 2K resolution center display, which replaces the vehicle’s previous 15.4-inch 1080p panel. This screen was already used in the six-seat Model Y L, and it offered improved visual clarity. Tesla China has also updated the Model Y’s headliner to black, giving the vehicle a sleeker appearance.
Prices of the five-seat Model Y remain unchanged at RMB 263,500, RMB 288,500, and RMB 313,500 for the respective trims. This update enhances the cabin experience as domestic rivals are already adopting high-resolution screens. As noted in a CNEV Post report, some domestic automakers have begun rolling out vehicles equipped with 3K-resolution displays.
New financing offers
Tesla also launched ultra-long-term financing offers for its locally produced models in China, which include the Model 3 sedan, the five-seat Model Y, and the six-seat Model Y L, through January 31, 2026. The 7-year option features an annualized fee rate as low as 0.5%, which is equivalent to 0.98% interest. This is expected to save customers up to RMB 33,479 ($4,790) compared to standard rates.
A 5-year zero-interest plan is also available, and it has been extended to the Tesla Model Y L for the first time. These incentives help offset China’s new 5% purchase tax on New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in 2026-2027. Some of Tesla’s rivals in China have announced in recent months that they would be covering the purchase tax owed by buyers early this year.
Elon Musk just said some crazy stuff about the Tesla Roadster
Tesla launches hiring for Robotaxi program in its twentieth country
