A group of U.S. senators is introducing legislation to boost domestic production of “critical minerals” that are often imported from China to make electric car batteries.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), comes as automakers such as Tesla Inc. and Volkswagen AG are making plans to ramp up their electric-car battery production in the United States.
Murkowski said in a statement that it is important for the U.S. not to cede ground to China in the race to power electric cars that several automakers are banking their futures on.
