In early October, two automakers each announced separate strategies to source natural materials in pursuit of a greener fleet future.

As BMW Group plans to release 10 million electric vehicles over the next 10 years, it has formulated a plan to secure one needed raw material to produce much-needed battery cells: lithium.

Meanwhile, General Motors signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GE Renewable Energy to evaluate opportunities to improve supplies of heavy and light rare earth materials and magnets, copper, and electrical steel to make electric vehicles and other renewable energy equipment.

BMW says their process will be environmentally friendly and resource efficient. The work is being funded by its venture capital fund, BMW i Ventures. It uses a process developed by U.S. startup Lilac Solutions, which has patented an ion exchange technology that extracts lithium from brine resources — natural deposits of salt water.

“Innovative technologies provide better, more sustainable and more efficient access to raw materials. By investing in startups, we are speeding up development of new technologies, stimulating competition and providing impetus that will make it easier for young companies to access the market,” said Wolfgang Obermaier, senior vice president indirect goods and services, raw materials, production partners at the BMW Group. “By investing in Lilac Solutions, we are supporting technological progress in the field of lithium extraction, with a focus on responsible and sustainable methods.”

For GM, the focus is to create a North America- and Europe-based magnet manufacturing supply chain produced from rare earth materials, which is needed to make electric motors. The two companies will also work together to establish new supply chains for additional materials, such as copper and eSteel.

As a part of the latter agreement, GM and GE Renewable Energy will also look to gain favor of public policies that support the establishment of secure supply chains for these materials.

"A secure, sustainable and resilient local supply chain for electric vehicle materials is critical to the execution of GM’s vision of an all-electric future," said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president for Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. "Motors are one of the most important components of our Ultium Platform, and the heavy and light rare earth materials are an essential ingredient in our motor magnets. The combined scale of GM and GE will enable us to unlock the potential for securing low-carbon footprint, ESG-friendly, secure and cost competitive materials."