WASHINGTON—Tesla Inc. expects global shortages of nickel, copper and other electric-vehicle battery minerals in the near future due to underinvestment in the mining sector, the company’s head of minerals procurement told an industry conference on May 2, according to two sources.
The company, a major minerals consumer, has rarely talked publicly about its views on the metals industry. Copper, nickel, lithium, and related minerals are key components used to make electric-vehicle batteries and other parts.
