DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – General Motors said it plans to invest $650 million in Lithium Americas. It’s a deal that will give GM exclusive access to the first phase of a mine planned near the Nevada-Oregon line with the largest known source of lithium in the U.S.

Lithium is a critical ingredient in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries.

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The equity investment the companies announced jointly is hinges on the project clearing the final environmental and legal challenges it faces in federal court in Reno.

Conservationists and tribes are suing to block it.

GM officials said this marks the largest-ever investment by an automaker to produce battery raw materials.

The mine could support production of up to 1 million electric vehicles each year.