Tesla (TSLA) quietly signs a deal with Vale S.A. (VALE), a Brazilian mining company. Reported on Wednesday by Bloomberg News. With the price of nickel steadily rising even before the war in Ukraine, Tesla made the move to secure its supply of the metal for the ever-increasing demand of Electric Vehicle batteries. Unlike most of its peer automakers, Tesla has spent years focusing on how to secure its own nickel supplies. The efforts are part of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s focus on vertical integration to maintain control over Tesla’s supply chain. “What Tesla has done with nickel is a hidden competitive advantage,” said Gene Munster, managing partner of Loup Ventures. “Tesla continues to be a couple of steps ahead of the rest.”
