Elon Musk's company last month signed an agreement with Australian company Syrah Resources, which operates one of the world's largest graphite mines in the southern African country. This is a unique partnership between an electric vehicle manufacturer and a producer of this essential mineral for lithium-ion batteries.

Tesla will buy the material from the company's processing plant in Vidalia, Louisiana, which sources graphite from its mine in Balama, Mozambique. The Austin, Texas-based electric car maker plans to buy 80% of the plant's output, or 8,000 tons of graphite per year, starting in 2025, according to the deal. The deal is part of Tesla's plan to boost its ability to manufacture its own batteries to reduce its reliance on China.