Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Home Topics Transport Automotive Serbia eyes lithium deals with Mercedes, Stellantis, VW, president says
AutomotiveBusinessCritical MineralsElectric Vehicles (EVs)MineralsNewsPoliticsTradeTransport

Serbia eyes lithium deals with Mercedes, Stellantis, VW, president says

96
FILE PHOTO: A electric charging port is seen attached to a vehicle in a street in Paris, France, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

FRANKFURT – Serbia will give Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Stellantis the opportunity to purchase lithium for car batteries as the nation prioritises European over Chinese carmakers, its president said.

“The EU needs lithium and we want to strengthen our ties with the EU,” President Aleksandar Vucic told German daily Handelsblatt in an interview published on Thursday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Serbia for talks with Vucic on Friday, with critical raw materials for battery supply chains and electric cars serving as a key theme.

Serbia has reinstated a licence for Rio Tinto to develop Europe’s biggest lithium mine in a potential boost to the continent’s electric vehicle industry.

Vucic told Handelsblatt that Serbia is eyeing an annual lithium output of 58,000 tonnes, enough for about 1.1 million electric vehicles or about 17% of the European market.

Procurement deals would be contingent on the largest part of further lithium processing and battery production taking place in Serbia, he added.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Editing by Rachel More)

Related Articles

Lilium burnt through huge sums while trying to develop its jet (AFP)

German flying taxi start-up’s rescue deal collapses

A German flying taxi start-up said on Friday it would halt operations...

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks as he attends a signing ceremony with members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

US energy council chief says power plants to produce 15% more electricity

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Interior Secretary and co-chair of...

Cuba has inaugurated a new solar energy park in the capital Havana (AFP)

Cuba opens solar park hoping to stave off blackouts

Cuba on Friday unveiled a new solar energy park in the capital...

FILE PHOTO: Cranes unload imported iron ore from a cargo vessel at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Iron ore heads for weekly gain on brightening demand outlook, China stimulus hopes

By Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson BEIJING (Reuters) -Iron ore futures prices...

Login into your Account

Please login to like, dislike or bookmark this article.