{
  "id": 14894129,
  "title": "Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/revealed-vw-ford-and-tesla-batteries-linked-to-destructive",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T07:00:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/16/vw-ford-tesla-batteries-deforestation-indigenous-lands"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Volkswagen, Ford, and Tesla electric carmakers may be using nickel mined in indigenous rainforests of Indonesia, according to an analysis. Nickel is a key component in battery cathodes, enabling higher energy density and longer range for electric vehicles. The mines involved are located in Sulawesi, a wildlife hotspot in Indonesia that houses the world's largest nickel deposits. Ore from these mines is processed into mixed hydroxide precipitate at Huayou's nickel smelter in Morowali, and then sent to cathode manufacturing sites in China. The processed ore is then transported to battery factories in China and used by carmakers in the US and Europe. The Cahaya and Hengjaya mines, owned by Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral (SCM), have been linked to widespread deforestation of primary rainforest in nickel-rich lands inhabited by the Tolaki people. The mining operations have led to the loss of trees and a significant increase in carbon footprint, with the carbon footprint of nickel from the worst mines potentially being up to 500 times greater than previously reported. Despite electric vehicles being less environmentally harmful than fossil fuel-burning engines, the boom in material-hungry SUVs is exacerbating the destruction by increasing the quantity of critical minerals mined.",
  "summary": "Mines in supply chains of western carmakers linked to widespread deforestation of primary rainforest in nickel-rich lands inhabited by Tolaki people in Indonesia Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla are among the electric carmakers whose batteries may contain nickel mined in indigenous woodlands plagued by deforestation, an analysis has found, highlighting the struggle to make vehicles that are free from…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/revealed-vw-ford-and-tesla-batteries-linked-to-destructive-14902512",
        "published": "2026-10-16T07:00:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}