Japan's wary about making their automotive industry critically dependant on Chinese industries. The Chinese already proved twice that they're willing to use supply chain dependency as political means to punish Japan, once with rare earth minerals and again recently with graphite in retaliation for the semi conductor exports ban.
And it's not just batteries. The supply chain of mineral mining, purification processing, to sub component manufacturing is dominated by Chinese companies. I think it's something like 98% of the global purified graphite needed for battery cathodes comes from Chinese refineries; everywhere else multiple times more expensive. For procuring one of the most common elements on the planet; carbon.
I suspect part of the reason why Japan not so hesitant anymore is because of the US Japan Critical Minerals Agreement covering cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel.
And it's not just batteries. The supply chain of mineral mining, purification processing, to sub component manufacturing is dominated by Chinese companies. I think it's something like 98% of the global purified graphite needed for battery cathodes comes from Chinese refineries; everywhere else multiple times more expensive. For procuring one of the most common elements on the planet; carbon.
I suspect part of the reason why Japan not so hesitant anymore is because of the US Japan Critical Minerals Agreement covering cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel.
https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-...
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press1e_000400.html