Elon Musk just said Tesla might get into the mining business to make sure it can make enough batteries for future vehicles

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool

Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

• Tesla might enter the mining business as it seeks to ensure that it can make enough batteries for future vehicles, CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday.

• As Tesla increases vehicle and battery production, it will have to consider parts of the battery supply chain, like mining.

• "We might get into the mining business. I don't know," Musk said.
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Tesla might enter the mining business as it seeks to ensure that it can make enough batteries for future vehicles, CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday.

Musk said the electric-car maker's ability to expand its product lineup depends on being able to produce a large number of batteries.

"There's not much point in adding product complexity if we don't have enough batteries," he said.

Read more: Elon Musk just said Tesla has a 'good shot' of setting a record for deliveries this quarter

As Tesla increases battery production, it will have to consider parts of the supply chain, like mining.

"We might get into the mining business. I don't know," Musk said. "We'll do whatever we have to to ensure that we can scale at the fastest rate possible."

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