Lithium Americas stock soars 95% on news of potential government stake

Core Insights - Lithium Americas (LAC) stock surged by 95% following reports that the Trump administration is interested in acquiring a stake in the company, which operates the largest lithium mine in the U.S. [1] - The administration is seeking up to a 10% stake in Lithium Americas as part of renegotiations for a $2.26 billion loan for the Thacker Pass lithium mine [1][2] - General Motors (GM), which holds a 38% stake in the project, saw its shares increase by over 2% [2] Company Developments - Lithium Americas has proposed offering the administration no-cost warrants on up to 10% of its common shares [2] - The administration is also looking for purchase guarantees from GM, which has invested $625 million in the project [2] - The Thacker Pass project is expected to produce over 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually, enough to manufacture 800,000 electric vehicles, with production set to begin in 2028 [3] Industry Context - Currently, Albemarle's Silver Peak project is the only operational lithium mine in the U.S., producing less than 5,000 metric tons per year [4] - The U.S. aims to enhance domestic supply chains for lithium and other critical metals, as China is the world's third-largest lithium producer, generating over 40,000 metric tons annually [4][5] - China refines over 65% of the world's lithium, while the U.S. accounts for less than 3% of global refining capacity [5] Government Strategy - The Trump administration's interest in Lithium Americas reflects a broader strategy to secure stakes in domestic mining companies, similar to previous actions with MP Materials and Intel [5][6] - MP Materials shares have risen over 50% since a multibillion-dollar deal with the Department of Defense, making the government the largest shareholder [6] - Intel's shares have increased by more than 25% following discussions with the administration [6]