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Analysis links carmakers’ nickel supply chains to Indonesian deforestation
The Guardian reports possible battery links to mines in indigenous woodlands, but the extract does not establish product-level traceability.
The Guardian reports an analysis linking mines in western carmakers’ supply chains to deforestation of primary rainforest in Indonesia’s nickel-rich lands inhabited by Tolaki people. Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla are named among manufacturers whose batteries may contain nickel mined in the affected woodlands. The wording describes a possible material link, rather than confirmed contents of particular batteries.
What holds up
- ✓The report identifies Indonesia and lands inhabited by Tolaki people as the focus of the analysis.
- ✓Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla are explicitly named, with the battery-content claim qualified as ‘may contain’.
What doesn't yet
- ?The extract does not provide the analysis’s methods, mine-level evidence or chain-of-custody records.
- ?No quantified forest loss or responses from the named carmakers are included.
Ask before you share
- →Can nickel be traced from the identified mines to specific suppliers and batteries?
- →How was forest loss measured and attributed to mining?
- →What do the companies say about the findings and their sourcing controls?
Sources & original reporting
- [1]The Guardian · Published 16 Oct 2026 · theguardian.com