Lithium Americas Shares Surge 90% As Trump Requests Stake

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Lithium Americas surged over 97% following the Trump administration's interest in acquiring an equity stake while negotiating a multibillion-dollar loan for the Thacker Pass mine, which is the largest lithium source in the U.S. [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Capitalization - Lithium Americas' stock increased approximately 97% to around $6, nearly doubling its market capitalization from $674 million to about $1.32 billion [1]. Group 2: Loan Negotiations and Stake Acquisition - The Trump administration has requested up to a 10% equity stake in Lithium Americas as part of renegotiating a $2.2 billion loan for the Thacker Pass mine [2]. - The company, along with General Motors, is seeking to renegotiate terms established under the Biden administration, with the Energy Department agreeing to minor modifications to protect taxpayers [3]. Group 3: Production Capacity and Economic Impact - The Thacker Pass facility is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium annually, sufficient to power approximately 800,000 electric vehicles [4]. - The project is anticipated to create over 2,000 jobs and significantly reduce gasoline consumption by an estimated 317 million gallons per year [5]. Group 4: Government Interest in Critical Minerals - The Trump administration's strategy includes seeking equity in companies involved in mining critical minerals to reduce import dependence, as evidenced by previous government interventions in companies like MP Materials and Intel [6].