# VW, Ford and Tesla batteries tied to deforestation of indigenous lands

A Guardian investigation has linked batteries used by Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla to nickel mining that is driving deforestation on indigenous territories, likely in Brazil. The findings tie major automakers' electric-vehicle supply chains to environmental destruction and land-rights abuses. It raises pressure on carmakers to clean up sourcing as EV demand grows.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/16/vw-ford-tesla-batteries-deforestation-indigenous-lands) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:00:56 GMT