Breaking
Dark Pool Bulls
Author

admin

Browsing
Investing

Japan Advances Rare Earths Ambitions with World’s First Seabed Trial

Investing 4 Mins Read

Japan announced that it has successfully retrieved mineral-rich seabed sediment from nearly 6,000 meters below the ocean’s surface near the remote island of Minamitorishima.

Officials say the technical milestone could help reduce the country’s dependence on China.

The work was carried out by deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, which collected the sediment as part of a government-backed test program aimed at assessing the feasibility of mining rare-earths-bearing mud from the deep ocean.

According to Japan’s Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Chikyu departed last month for Minamitorishima — about 1,950 kilometers southeast of Tokyo — and arrived at the test site on January 17.

The first batch of sediment was recovered on February 1.

“It is a first step toward industrialization of domestically produced rare earth in Japan,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a statement posted on X. “We will make efforts toward achieving resilient supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals to avoid overdependence on a particular country.”

Rare earths are essential in the high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defense systems. China currently dominates global production and processing of heavy rare earths, giving Beijing significant influence over prices and supply, a vulnerability that has increasingly worried world governments.

Japan’s latest test comes amid heightened geopolitical tension in the region.

Tokyo has grown more concerned about potential supply disruptions after China recently suspended exports of certain dual-use goods to Japan. While rare earths were not explicitly named, the move raised fears that Beijing could use its control over critical minerals as leverage as it has in the past.

Japanese researchers first identified rare-earth-rich mud deposits around Minamitorishima in the 2010s. Since then, the government has funded research, development and feasibility studies under its Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, focusing on whether those resources could support a domestic supply chain.

The current trial is designed to test not only the ability to retrieve sediment from extreme depths, but also the logistics of deep-sea mining. Officials cautioned that the work is still at an early stage. Details such as the concentration of rare earth elements in the retrieved mud and the overall recovery rates are still being analyzed. Moving toward commercial production would require demonstrating the entire process, from seabed extraction to separation and refining.

Japan plans to continue testing through mid-February. If the trials are successful, larger-scale demonstrations could follow, potentially including the construction of a dedicated processing facility on Minamitorishima later this decade.

US targets rare earths security with Project Vault

While Japan pushes deeper into rare earths supply diversification, developments in the US underscore how deeply critical minerals policies are shaping markets on both sides of the Pacific.

On Monday (February 2), the Trump administration rolled out Project Vault, a roughly US$12 billion strategic critical minerals reserve aimed at reducing US dependence on China for rare earths and other essential metals.

The initiative, anchored by a US$10 billion loan from the US Export‑Import Bank and about US$2 billion in private capital, is designed to stockpile strategic materials like rare earths, cobalt and lithium.

The program’s backers say the reserve will function much like America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, offering a buffer against global supply disruptions and insulating manufacturers from price shocks that have plagued markets during recent US-China trade tensions. Analysts say the effort signals an ongoing shift toward industrial policy that treats critical minerals as strategic assets, even as completion details and long‑term execution remain uncertain.

The financial markets responded quickly. Shares of Australian rare earths producer Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC,OTCQX:LYSDY) rallied more than 3 percent on Tuesday (February 3), closing at AU$15.25, reflecting renewed investor interest tied to the policy news and the broader rare earth narrative.

Lynas’ recent movements come against a backdrop of broader gains in non‑Chinese mineral producers, as investors reposition around supply chain security and government policy support.

Rare earths stocks more generally saw upticks in the US market after the country’s critical minerals plan came into focus, with producers like MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) gaining on reports of increased government engagement in critical mineral sourcing.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Investing

Westport Announces $6.5 Million Milestone Payment From Light-Duty Divestiture

Investing 3 Mins Read

~ Previously announced Light-Duty divestiture providing non-dilutive capital that strengthens Westport’s cash position~

Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (‘Westport’) (TSX:WPRT Nasdaq: WPRT), a supplier of alternative fuel systems and components for the global transportation industry, today announced that it has received $6.5 million (Euro 5.5 million) as part of its previously announced sale of the Light-Duty segment. The escrow payment was triggered under the terms of the sale agreement following the achievement of a defined post-closing milestone.

‘This milestone payment reflects continued progress in the post-closing steps of our Light-Duty business divestiture,’ said Elizabeth Owens, Chief Financial Officer at Westport. ‘While additional payments are expected as the transaction phases are completed, this interim payment strengthens our cash position today to support ongoing operations and our strategic initiatives. We remain disciplined in executing the remaining elements of the divestiture process along with our ongoing operational efficiency improvements.’

Additional information relating to the Light-Duty divestiture can be found in news releases posted on Westport’s website HERE.

About Westport
Westport is a technology and innovation company connecting synergistic technologies to power a cleaner tomorrow. As a leading supplier of affordable, alternative fuel, low-emissions transportation technologies, we design, manufacture, and supply advanced components and systems that enable the transition from traditional fuels to cleaner energy solutions.

Our proven technologies support a wide range of clean fuels – including natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen – empowering OEMs and commercial transportation industries to meet performance demands, regulatory requirements, and climate targets in a cost-effective way. With decades of expertise and a commitment to engineering excellence, Westport is helping our partners achieve sustainability goals—without compromising performance or cost-efficiency – making clean, scalable transport solutions a reality.

Westport is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. For more information, visit Westport.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the receipt and timing of additional milestone-based payments related to the divestiture of our Light-Duty business, the impact of the Euro 5.5 million escrow release disclosed herein, expectations regarding our cash position, and our ongoing operational and strategic initiatives, including efficiency improvements. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on both the views of management and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include those related to the completion of remaining post-closing obligations connected to the Light-Duty divestiture, the timing and satisfaction of conditions required for any additional milestone payments, general economic conditions of and access to the capital and debt markets, solvency, governmental policies and regulation, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, supply-chain factors and other risks and assumptions described in our most recent Annual Information Form and other filings with securities regulators. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of publication. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in these forward looking statements except as required by National Instrument 51-102. The contents of any website, RSS feed or twitter account referenced in this press release are not incorporated by reference herein.

Contact Information
Westport Investor Relations
T: +1 604-718-2046

        

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Politics

Schumer faces backlash after calling SAVE Act ‘Jim Crow’ despite previous allegation falling flat

Politics 3 Mins Read

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stood in the way of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) this week, claiming that it represents ‘Jim Crow’ segregation laws, leading many on social media to bring up his identical claim about a Georgia voting law that resulted in record Black turnout.

Schumer pushed back on a Republican plan to add the SAVE Act, which would require states to obtain proof of citizenship in-person when people register to vote and remove non-citizens from voter rolls, to the spending package being debated in Congress.

‘I have said it before and I’ll say it again, the SAVE Act would impose Jim Crow-type laws to the entire country and is dead on arrival in the Senate,’ Schumer said on Monday. ‘It is a poison pill that will kill any legislation that it is attached to… The SAVE Act is reminiscent of Jim Crow era laws and would expand them to the whole of America. Republicans want to restore Jim Crow and apply it from one end of this country to the other. It will not happen.’

Many on social media quickly pointed to Schumer previously calling a Georgia election integrity law ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ before the law resulted in record Black turnout in the 2022 state election.

‘Schumer used the same line to describe Georgia laws that indisputably expanded voter access back in 2022,’ commentator and writer AG Hamilton posted on X. ‘It’s incredibly offensive and unserious to pretend that every voting law equates to a renewal of Jim Crow.’

Many Democrats, from Schumer, to President Joe Biden, to failed Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, warned that the Georgia voter integrity law would be ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ and Major League Baseball even pulled its All-Star Game from Atlanta in 2021 amid public pressure.

Ultimately, the Georgia Secretary of State revealed that the law did not suppress turnout, but rather increased it, particularly among minority voters.

‘Chuck Schumer sounds like a broken record,’ Honest Elections Project Executive Director Jason Snead told Fox News Digital. ‘When Georgia passed a new voting law in 2021, Schumer labeled it ‘Jim Crow’ even though the state went on to see explosive turnout in 2022.’

Snead pointed to a University of Georgia poll after the 2022 election finding that 0% of Black respondents had a poor experience voting. 

Snead continued, ‘Now, Schumer is smearing the SAVE Act the same way because he has no legitimate excuse for opposing a law that makes sure only American citizens are voting—which more than 80% of Americans support. Schumer’s smears were false then, and they are false now.

‘Schumer and the Democrats keep trying to rig the rules of our elections by pushing failed, California-style election laws that invite chaos and fraud. That’s not what Americans want.’

Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s office for comment.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
Politics

Leaked documents expose Khamenei’s secret deadly blueprint for crushing Iran protests

Politics 3 Mins Read

Leaked documents from the Iranian regime reveal a coordinated plan by its security apparatus, approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to violently suppress nationwide protests using force, surveillance and internet shutdowns.

Excerpts of the documents, reviewed by Fox News Digital, show that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council developed the strategy after the 2019 nationwide protests that came amid fuel price hikes and economic collapse.

At a National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) press briefing Tuesday covering the regime’s pre-planned orders behind the protests and mass killings, Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office, said the documents ‘were obtained from within the regime’ and later cited The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) as having gained access to them.

‘This Directive by the National Security Council was obtained by the network in Iran of the MEK, which has access to sources within the regime,’ he confirmed to Fox News Digital.

‘These documents show the regime’s efforts to prevent the resurgence of the uprising and, if it occurred, to suppress it,’ Jafarzadeh added before stating that there are ‘clear operational plans allocated to the IRGC to use lethal force to kill as many people as needed to stay in power.’

The first document, classified ‘top secret,’ was issued Mar. 3, 2021, with the regime codifying four escalating law enforcement and security conditions. The regime defined how unrest would be handled and which authorities would be in command at each stage.

Initial law enforcement and non-armed security situations placed command authority with Iran’s national police force, with support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Intelligence Ministry (VAJA).

In the most severe category, designated an ‘armed security situation,’ full command authority rapidly shifted to the IRGC.

‘For now, this compilation should be communicated for two years,’ Khamenei wrote before ordering the blueprint implemented nationwide.

The secret guidelines became the blueprint for crushing the January 2026 protests, which erupted amid soaring inflation, currency collapse and anger toward clerical rule.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 6,854 people have been killed during the protests, with 11,280 cases under investigation.

Internal regime assessments cited in other leaked files describe three phases of the 2026 uprising: an initial law enforcement phase, followed by a non-armed security phase and finally an armed security situation beginning Jan. 8 when authority shifted fully to the IRGC that played the command role and carried out armed killings.

The documents specify that during armed security situations, the IRGC operated with support from other security bodies, while Iran’s Ministry of Communications was ordered to impose internet restrictions, including full shutdowns.

A second classified document, compiled in 2024 by the IRGC’s Sarallah Headquarters, reveals how far the regime went to prepare for dissent.

The 129-page ‘Comprehensive Security Plan of Tehran’ details extensive surveillance and repression measures, identifying members of the opposition MEK and family members of executed dissidents as ‘level number one’ enemies subject to monitoring and control.

‘It also shows how far the regime is prepared to go to kill as many people as needed, which they did in January 2026. However, these killings further convinced the people that there is only one way to end the killings, and that is to overthrow the regime,’ Jafarzadeh added.

‘There are more people, especially young ones, who have joined the ranks of the organized force to confront the IRGC and liberate the nation,’ he said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
Politics

Moms org backs Trump’s efforts with ‘aggressive’ campaign against illicit Chinese vape: ‘This is personal’

Politics 3 Mins Read

: A group led by conservative moms is stepping into the fight against illegal Chinese-made vapes, inspired by the Trump administration’s efforts, and announcing it will be mounting an ‘aggressive’ 2026 campaign to educate parents on the dangers of illegal e-cigarettes. 

Moms for America Action, the nation’s largest conservative mothers organization, announced in a press release it will make combating illegal Chinese vapes a top priority in the 2026 election cycle, mobilizing parents and placing ads nationwide to demand tougher enforcement and accountability for manufacturers flooding the U.S. market with illicit products.

The group says the action is in line with the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal vape products manufactured in China that are marketed to children with a variety of flavors.

‘For moms, this is personal,’ Emily Stack, executive director of Moms for America Action, said in the press release.

‘Illegal Chinese vapes are showing up in our schools, our neighborhoods, and our homes every single day. Moms are fed up, and we’re taking action to stop these products from targeting our kids.’

Moms for America Actions says it will ‘mobilize moms’ to ‘advocate for stronger enforcement, accountability for foreign manufacturers, and protections for children and families.’

In the press release, the group points out that many illicit Chinese vapes are ‘deliberately designed’ to appeal to children and says that will be a main focus of their campaign’s pushback.

 ‘This is not an accident; it’s by design,’ Stack explained. ‘China has built a billion-dollar industry on addicting American kids to illegal products that have no place in our communities. Moms are fed up, and we fully support the Trump administration’s aggressive actions to shut down this black market.’

The group’s efforts are in line with the Trump administration’s push to combat illicit Chinese vapes, highlighted by an $86.5 million seizure of illegal vapes in Chicago last year that accompanied ‘Operation Vape Trail,’ an operation by Trump’s Drug Enforcement Agency to stem illegal vape sales. 

‘The Chinese are getting richer while our children get sicker,’ Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X last September. ‘We’re putting an end to that.’

‘We are targeting illegal Chinese vapes, and we will stop them from poisoning our children.’

China’s vape industry is estimated at $28 billion, and despite federal restrictions, government data indicates that two-thirds of its products reach U.S. consumers. More than 80% of vapes sold nationwide are illicit and not authorized for sale. 

‘President Trump’s actions send a clear message: profiting off the addiction of our children will not be tolerated,’ Stack said. ‘Moms want safe communities, honest enforcement of the law, and leaders who put American families first. We are committed to making sure these dangerous products are removed from our schools and neighborhoods for good.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
Politics

Epstein emails reveal behind-the-scenes talk of firing Fed chair Powell

Politics 2 Mins Read

Buried among the roughly 3 million pages of Justice Department documents is a brief exchange revealing disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein discussing the removal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with then–Trump advisor Steve Bannon.

The 2018 emails, bearing the subject line ‘Re: Trump has discussed firing Fed chief after latest interest rate hike: report,’ show Epstein and Bannon weighing who should exit the Trump administration next.

Epstein opened the exchange by endorsing the idea of removing Powell, who Trump had appointed to the role a year prior.

‘Should have been done months ago too old!!!!’ Epstein wrote.

The exchange took place two days after then–Defense Secretary James Mattis stunned Washington with his resignation, and Epstein dismissed the foreign policy upheaval as secondary to changes at the Fed.

‘Getting rid of Powell much more important than Syria/Mattis. I guess Pompeo, only one left,’ Epstein wrote in a follow-up email, adding that ‘Jared and Ivanka need to go,’ referencing Trump’s daughter and son-in-law who held positions in the administration. 

Bannon responded by asking whether Powell or then–Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin could be removed.

‘Can u get rid of Powell or really get rid of Mnuchin,’ Bannon wrote.

Epstein replied that Mnuchin should remain in place.

‘No, Mnuchin is ok,’ Epstein wrote.

The revelation of the email correspondence underscores a moment years in the making, as President Donald Trump moves forward with a criminal investigation into Powell and names Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the central bank.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
Politics

Lawmakers question whether US moving fast enough to capitalize on Hezbollah’s weakened state

Politics 3 Mins Read

A House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday underscored what lawmakers and witnesses repeatedly described as a ‘historic’ but ‘narrowing’ opportunity to weaken Hezbollah and restore Lebanese state sovereignty, while exposing sharp disagreement over whether current U.S. policy is moving fast or forcefully enough.

Opening the hearing, Chairman Mike Lawler, R-NY., said Lebanon is ‘at a crossroads’ following the Nov. 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, arguing the moment offers ‘an unprecedented opportunity’ to help Lebanon ‘break free of the shackles of Iran’s malign influence.’ He warned, however, that progress has been uneven, saying implementation of the Lebanese Armed Forces’ has been ‘haphazard at best.’

The ranking member, Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., struck a more confrontational tone toward the administration, warning that Hezbollah is already rebuilding and that U.S. policy risks squandering the moment.

‘There is a historic opportunity in Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and remove its grip on the Lebanese state,’ he said. ‘That window of opportunity, however, is narrow. Hezbollah is working hard to rebuild, rearm and to reconstitute itself.’

He criticized cuts to non-security assistance and faulted comments by a Trump administration envoy who described Hezbollah as ‘a political party that also has a militant aspect to it,’ arguing such language ‘sent the wrong signals’ at a critical moment.

David Schenker, senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, testified that while Hezbollah has been weakened militarily, the pace of disarmament remains slow and obstructed.

‘The LAF has a presence in the south that it didn’t have prior to November 2024,’ Schenker said. ‘But they are not in control. Hezbollah still controls the region.’

Schenker said the obstacle is no longer capability but political will. ‘At this point, the question of disarmament is not a matter of capability but of will,’ he told lawmakers, warning that Hezbollah continues to thrive amid corruption and a cash-based economy.

Hanin Ghaddar, senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that even full weapons surrender would not dismantle Hezbollah’s power.

‘Hezbollah is not sustained by weapons alone,’ Ghaddar said. ‘It survives through an economic and political ecosystem that protects cash flows, penetrates state institutions and enables military rebuilding.’

She warned that Lebanon’s unregulated cash economy has become Hezbollah’s most durable asset. ‘Weapons can be collected, but money keeps flowing,’ Ghaddar said. ‘Disarmament without dismantling the cash economy… will not be durable.’

All three witnesses emphasized U.S. support should be tied to measurable performance such as progress on disarmament of Hezbollah and economic reform.

Schenker called for renewed sanctions against corrupt Lebanese officials, saying, ‘We should be sanctioning leaders right now… who are obstructing reform.’

Dana Stroul, director of research and senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warned that Washington’s approach remains incomplete.

‘For the past year, U.S. policy has focused on Hezbollah disarmament, which is critical, but on its own is only a partial strategy,’ Stroul said.

She cautioned that upcoming parliamentary elections could either ‘strengthen or undermine the anti-Hezbollah government,’ calling it the ‘worst-case outcome’ if Hezbollah-aligned politicians retain power.

Ghaddar said Hezbollah’s weakening has shifted Lebanese public discourse. ‘The mythology of resistance has shattered,’ she said. ‘Peace is no longer taboo.’

She argued that normalization with Israel would raise the political cost of Hezbollah’s rearmament and help lock in reform. ‘Without a credible peace horizon, disarmament and economic reform will be temporary. With one, they become structural,’ Ghaddar said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
Business

Elon Musk’s SpaceX acquires xAI

Business 3 Mins Read

SpaceX on Monday acquired xAI, the artificial intelligence startup that also owns the X social media platform, in a deal combining two companies owned by Elon Musk.

Musk in a news release said that the combination would aim to pursue AI data centers in outer space.

The deal comes on the verge of SpaceX’s highly anticipated initial public offering, which is expected to occur later this year.

The deal creates ‘the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free speech platform,’ Musk said in a statement.

The combined company will become the world’s most valuable private company, worth more than $1.2 trillion, Bloomberg News reported. NBC News has not been able to verify the valuation, and the companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Musk went on to say that space would be a crucial avenue for building advanced artificial intelligence.

‘In the long term, space-based AI is obviously the only way to scale,’ Musk wrote. ‘The only logical solution therefore is to transport these resource-intensive efforts to a location with vast power and space.’

Musk also offered an ambitious timeline for starting to develop AI from space. He’s failed to meet many of the previous goals he set for his companies.

“My estimate is that within 2 to 3 years, the lowest cost way to generate AI compute will be in space,” he wrote in Monday’s news release.

SpaceX already conducts rocket tests using reusable parts, provides cellular phone and data services to T-Mobile customers, and is working with NASA to return humans to the moon in the near future.

Meanwhile, xAI, Musk’s bid to get in on the AI boom, has reportedly soared to a more than $200 billion valuation. Along the way, the company and its AI bot, Grok, have drawn criticism. Recently, the company limited its image generation technology after users said it was creating sexualized deepfakes. A number of state attorneys general and the European Union are investigating the company.

Musk’s companies have often been intertwined, but Monday’s deal brings them even closer together. Another one of Musk’s companies, Tesla, has invested in xAI and uses some of its technology.

Musk merged his social media site X with xAI in early 2025, but the tie-up between xAI and SpaceX marks the largest combination to date of Musk’s vast business projects.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX has helped catapult Musk to the ranking of richest person in the world, with a net worth of more than $670 billion. The company has quickly become a critical supplier of satellite-based internet around the world, with more than 9,000 satellites orbiting Earth, used by both consumers and governments. SpaceX also holds multiple NASA contracts.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Keep Reading
Investing

10 Biggest EV Stocks to Watch in 2026

Investing 12 Mins Read

The energy revolution is here to stay, and electric vehicles (EVs) have become part of the mainstream narrative.

The shift toward green energy is gathering momentum, with governments adding more incentives to accelerate this transition. Increasing EV sales are good news for battery metals investors, as EVs are significant drivers for commodities such as lithium, cobalt and graphite, key components in the cathodes of EV batteries. Additionally, interest in EV options outside of Tesla is heating up, and Chinese EVs are increasing in popularity outside of the country.

Read on to learn about the top US and Chinese EV stocks, and the batteries and battery suppliers they’re using for their current and upcoming models.

1. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Market cap: US$1.62 trillion

First on the list is EV maker Tesla, which has brought significant attention to the EV narrative.

The company’s story starts in 2003, when it was founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk invested in the company in 2004, becoming the largest shareholder, and eventually became its CEO in 2008. A well-known story for battery metals investors, the company made headlines in 2014 when it broke ground at its first gigafactory in Nevada, US, an unthinkable proposition at the time.

Outside of the US, Tesla also has gigafactories in China and Germany. Tesla’s massive Shanghai Gigafactory was the company’s first auto plant outside of the United States. The company produces Model 3s and Model Ys for China and global export.

Tesla uses a range of different lithium-ion batteries in its models. In partnership with Panasonic (TSE:6752), at its Nevada gigafactory Tesla produces batteries with nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cathodes — different from most of Tesla’s competitors, which use a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) mix.

Tesla announced in 2021 that it was changing the battery chemistry for its standard-range vehicles to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes, which are cobalt- and nickel-free. China’s largest battery maker, CATL (SZSE:300750), is a key supplier of LFP batteries for Tesla, particularly for the Shanghai and Berlin gigafactories.

Changes in US tariffs on EVs made or sourced in China have impacted Tesla’s business, leading the company to try diversifying its supply chain. Last year, South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (KRX:373220) signed a US$4.3 billion deal to supply Tesla with LFP batteries from its factory in Michigan, US, starting in 2027.

On the other hand, Tesla’s prime EV position got a boost in the first quarter of 2026 Canada announced it would allow imports of up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs per year, and lowered tariffs on them from 100 to 6.1 percent. Half of that quota could apply to Tesla’s EVs made in Shanghai, while the other half is dedicated to EVs priced under C$35,000.

Image via Tesla.

2. BYD Company (OTCPK:BYDDY,HKEX:1211)

Market cap: US$116 billion

Leading Chinese EV maker BYD Company was founded in 1995 and is a top producer of several kinds of rechargeable batteries, including nickel-metal hydride batteries and NCM batteries. BYD has a vertically integrated supply chain, from mineral battery cells to battery packs.

Backed by Warren Buffett, in 2020 BYD officially launched its Blade battery, a less bulky LFP battery. The following year, the company announced that it would use the Blade LFP batteries for all of its pure electric models.

In April 2025, BYD released two new EV models, the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, based on its new Super e-platform, which allows users to add 400 kilometers (248 miles) of range in five minutes of charging, and charge to 100 percent in 20 minutes.

BYD’s range of models include low-cost options such as the Seagull and Dolphin. Because of this, the company stands to benefit from Canada’s decision to allow imports and slash tariffs for up to 49,000 Chinese EVs per year, half of which must be under C$35,000.

For the first time, in 2025, BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s biggest EV seller in terms of annual sales. BYD sold 2.25 million units for the year, up 28 percent over 2024, compared to the 1.64 million units sold by Tesla in 2025, down 9 percent from the previous year.

Image via BYD.

3. Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN)

Market cap: US$18.08 billion

Founded in 2009 in Florida, US, Rivian designs, develops and manufactures EVs and accessories and sells them directly to customers in the consumer and commercial markets.

The US company is based in Irvine, California, and manufactures its vehicles in Illinois.

The carmaker announced plans to use cells made with LFP chemistries for its standard-level vehicles in 2022, and in 2023 announced plans to switch its entire lineup to this type of battery. South Korea’s Samsung SDI (KRX:006400) and LG Energy Solutions are Rivian’s current battery suppliers.

Last year, the company revealed e-scooters to market through its spinoff electric micromobility company named Also. The scooters are expected to hit the market in mid-2026. It has plans to launch a three-wheel EV line as well.

In early January 2026, Rivian reached a major milestone toward full-scale production of its new R2 with the manufacturing of validation builds at its plant in Illinois. This latest reiteration will be priced starting at US$45,000, with first deliveries slated for the first half of this year. Rivian sold 42,247 EVs in 2025.

Image via Rivian.

4. XPeng (NYSE:XPEV)

Market cap: US$17.49 billion

Xpeng is a Chinese EV maker focused on smart EVs. The company’s main manufacturing plant is located in Guangdong province.

Xpeng now uses LFP batteries for 99 percent of its EV lineup. CALB (HKEX:3931) is Xpeng’s largest battery supplier, and its other suppliers include CATL, BYD, Sunwoda Electronic (SZSE:300207) and EVE Energy (SZSE:300014).

Last year, the company showcased its 2025 XPENG X9 flagship vehicle, with self-driving capabilities powered by Xpeng’s self-developed Turing AI chip. At the same time, Xpeng unveiled its AEROHT Land Aircraft Carrier, slated for mass production in 2026. The company bills it as ‘the world’s first modular flying car.’

XPeng’s 2025 EV sales reached 429,445 units. The company has ambitious goals for 2026, aiming to sell between 550,000 and 600,000 EVs during the year. XPeng is launching four new SUV models this year: the XPeng G01 and XPeng G02, as well as two models from the Mona series, the D02 and D03.

Image via Xpeng.

5. Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI)

Market cap: US$17.03 billion

Li Auto bills itself as a pioneer in successfully commercializing extended-range EVs in China, and is a leader in China’s full-size and large SUV markets. The company started volume production of its first model, Li ONE, in November 2019, and launched its initial public offering in July 2020, raising US$1.1 billion.

Li Auto has battery supply agreements with CATL, Sunwoda Electronic and SVOLT Energy Technology.

One of the main differences between Li Auto and the other companies on this list is that Li Auto’s models allow battery pack charging with electricity or gas. The company calls this design extended-range EV technology.

Li Auto launched its first all-electric car, Li MEGA MPV, in 2024. In 2025, the company followed that with its second all-electric vehicle, the i8 SUV, which uses an NMC battery and maxes out at 536 horsepower. Li Auto also broadened its markets last year, launching three core models (Li L9, Li L7 and Li L6) in Egypt, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Li Auto achieved a significant milestone in 2025, with annual sales surpassing 1.5 million units. This made it “the first among China’s new EV startups to reach that mark,” according to the company’s Chairman and CEO Li Xiang.

Image via Li Auto.

6. NIO (NYSE:NIO)

Market cap: US$10.36 billion

Founded in 2014, Chinese EV maker NIO designs, jointly manufactures and sells smart and connected premium EVs.

NIO’s strategy includes its battery-as-a-service endeavor, a subscription purchasing model where buyers lease vehicle batteries. The company says the idea behind this move is to reduce vehicle costs. The service is run by a battery asset company, with NIO and leading battery maker CATL owning a stake. CATL is already NIO’s sole battery supplier.

The company has built battery swap stations that allow drivers with low batteries to pull up and have it swapped for a full battery within minutes. Its fifth generation swap stations are expected to roll out starting in 2026.

In September 2021, the company introduced a standard-range hybrid-cell battery that combines NCM and LFP cells. NIO is also offering the world’s longest-range semi-solid-state battery on a rental basis through its partnership with Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology.

In 2024, NIO launched its newest EV brand, Firefly, in China. The first model in this brand is a small car for city dwellers who struggle with finding convenient parking, as it can locate available spots and use parking assist to maneuver into them. Drivers are also be able to access the above-mentioned battery swap program.

NIO reported 2025 vehicle sales of 326,028 units, an increase of 46.9 percent year-over-year. Launched in September 2025, its flagship ES8 SUV became the fastest-selling EV in China in its price category by the end of the year. The company plans to bring three new large SUV models to the market in 2026, and expand into Australia and New Zealand in the second half of the year.

Image via Nio Newsroom.

7. VinFast Auto (NASDAQ:VFS)

Market cap: US$7.72 billion

VinFast Auto, Vietnam’s first global automotive manufacturer, is a multinational EV manufacturer producing both affordable and luxury EVs. The company’s lineup also includes an electric pickup truck known as the VF Wild.

VinFast has showrooms and service centers in North America, including in 14 US states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Québec.

Vietnam is the EV maker’s largest market, and it significantly expanded its footprint in Asia in 2025, adding numerous showrooms in the Philippines, Indonesia and India. Last year, the company brought a new manufacturing facility online in India and opened its first Indonesian assembly plant in December. It is scheduled to scale up production and launch new models, including electric two-wheelers, in 2026.

Image via VinFast.

8. Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (OTC Pink:ZJLMF,HKEX:9863)

Market cap: US$7.58 billion

The Leapmotor brand first launched in China in 2017. The EV manufacturer designs and supplies its own battery packs for its vehicles.

Major auto maker Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) became a 20 percent shareholder in late 2023. The following year, the two entities formed the 51/49 joint venture company Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds the controlling interest. The joint venture is focused on selling and manufacturing Leapmotor vehicles outside of China.

The company’s current models in the market include seven seater SUV C16, mid-size crossover SUV C10, smart electric SUV C11, smart-tech C11 SUV, compact SUV B10, the new B01 sedan and T03 city EV.

Leapmotor unveiled its B01 electric sedan in April 2025. The vehicle is powered by LFP batteries from Gotion High-tech, CALB and Zenergy.

At the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, Leapmotor showcased the three EVs it has launched in Europe since expanding into the market: the B03X compact electric SUV, the B05 hatchback and the B10 range-extended electric vehicle.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

9. Lucid Group (NASDAQ:LCID)

Market cap: US$3.59 billion

Headquartered in California, Lucid Group was founded in 2007 and produces luxury electric cars. The company’s first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan that is being produced at its US factory in Casa Grande, Arizona.

In April 2025, Lucid announced the acquisition of select Arizona-based facilities and assets of battery and fuel-cell EV company Nikola Corporation.

Lucid Motors uses high-performance Panasonic battery cells for its long-range electric vehicles. These cells are currently manufactured in Japan, but the company is transitioning to using batteries from Panasonic’s new facility in Kansas by mid-2026 to avoid Trump’s import tariffs.

Lucid plans to launch a full-scale manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia in 2026, with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles by 2029.

The company’s Gravity SUV was named Esquire’s 2026 Car of the Year.

Image via Lucid.

10. Polestar Automotive (NASDAQ:PSNY)

Market cap: US$1.41 billion

Sweden-based electric performance car brand Polestar is owned by Geely Automobile Holdings (OTC Pink:GELYF,HKEX:80175). Up until early 2024, Volvo Cars was also a part owner, but it decided to hand Polestar entirely over to Geely to operate as an independent brand, attributing the move to slowing global demand for EVs.

Polestar’s current lineup includes the five door liftback Polestar 2, the luxury performance Polestar 3 SUV, the Polestar 4 compact coupe SUV and the Polestar 5 performance sedan, the last of which was released in 2025. The company is also planning the Polestar 7 compact SUV and the Polestar 6 roadster.

Polestar has experienced some difficulties in the last couple years, including software challenges in 2023 that caused delays in the rollout of the Polestar 3. In 2024, the company recorded a 15 percent drop in deliveries.

The EV maker’s bad luck seems to be turning around in 2025. Polestar sold a record 60,119 vehicles during the year, a 34 percent improvement over 2024.

This is in part thanks to Polestar’s efforts to capitalize on Tesla’s struggles with Musk and its brand image. In February 2025, Polestar began offering Tesla owners in the US and Canada discounts of up to $20,000 on new leases of its models. Its Q1 2025 sales jumped 76 percent year over year.

Image via SlashGear.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Investing

Questcorp Mining Engages Contractor for Commencement of North Island Copper IP Survey

Investing 4 Mins Read

Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) has chosen Peter W. Walcott and Associates Limited of Coquitlam, BC to undertake the permitted 10 to 15 line km induced polarization (IP) survey at the Company’s 1,168 hectare North Island Copper project near Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The IP survey will concentrate on the historic Marisa Zone, a porphyry copper target last explored in the 1990’s. Surface sampling and a preliminary 12.3-line km IP survey identified an interesting chargeability anomaly that was followed up by a five-hole, 376.43 diamond drilling program. Two of the five holes hit interesting copper values including down hole intervals of 0.078% copper over 56.39 metres in DDH92-01 and 0.041% copper over 70.71 metres in DDH92-03 in an altered quartz diorite. Copper grades were increasing with depth in DDH92-03. The Company plans to follow up these historic results. Source: Geophysical and Diamond Drilling Report on the Marisa Property by G.J. Allen and P.G. Dasler dated 1992-Feb-29 for Great Western Gold Corporation.

‘As copper prices continue to climb due to demand and supply issues, the importance of the North Island Copper project increases,’ commented Questcorp President & CEO, Saf Dhillon. ‘We feel the 1992 preliminary drill results demand further exploration, especially with copper grades increasing with depth to the bottom of one of the historic drill holes. Our setting in the right rocks between the historic Island Copper Mine and NorthIsle Copper and Gold Inc. (CSE: NCX), further attests to the potential of Questcorp’s North Island Copper project.’

The 2026 IP survey will run lines at the same azimuth, spaced midway between the 1973 IP survey lines to tighten the coverage over the area. Walcott hopes to incorporate the historic IP with the 2026 data to generate new chargeability and resistivity subsurface elevation plans, along with the 2026 psuedosection lines. The plans and sections will be utilized to generate drill targets for a follow-up drill program. Walcott is expected to mobilize to the property mid-February, with completion anticipated prior to month end.

Questcorp cautions investors a Qualified Person has not verified the historical exploration data and further cautions the presence of copper mineralization on the NorthIsle Copper and Gold and the BHP properties is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the North Island Copper property.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metal properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper property, on Vancouver Island, B.C., subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.
Saf Dhillon, President & CEO
Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031

This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282479

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading