“We are seriously considering whether we can buy more while they are cheap now,” Liu said, adding that forecasts on the price outlook remain difficult.

The producer is weighing its metal purchasing plans as it seeks to expand output and narrow the gap on the world’s top battery makers. EVE Energy is the fifth largest supplier to China’s EV sector, with a 5% market share, trailing behind competitors including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and BYD Co., according to BloombergNEF data

.“We are expecting both Chinese domestic and seaborne lithium prices to stay flat for the next three months, and pick-up toward the end of Q4,” BNEF’s head of metals and mining Sophie Lu said

The prospect of a tighter battery metals markets has been brought into focus after Tesla Inc. said it plans to secure future supply needs by producing its own lithium chemicals, in addition to agreements with existing manufacturers. Lithium demand from the battery sector is likely to increase ninefold through 2030

As the battery sector builds scale and end-users demand more advanced technology, EVE’s Liu expects industry consolidation, with smaller players likely to find it harder to compete. “Unless they have a distinctive edge in their products, they will be forced to exit the battery race,” he said.

EVE has begun to review opportunities for potential partnerships, acquisitions or mergers in regions including the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea, according to Liu, who said he’s worked in the lithium-ion battery industry for 35 years.

“We have yet to find any suitable targets,” Liu said. “We’d want to look for the best in terms of equipment, and we are also concerned about the quality of production and management.”

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That quote bears repeating and contemplation:  "“We have yet to find any suitable targets,” Liu said"

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Bold italics added by me for emphasis, but this article clearly points out the thinking of at least one Chinese EV manufacturer:  better get in on the lithium supply while the getting is good!  I think this view by one Chinese EV manufacturer documents quite well what I have been talking about in regards to the future multiple options of Jon Evans and LAC in respect to marketing the lithium to be produced at Thacker Pass.  Maybe not so much to a Chinese company, as conditions between China and the U.S. continue to develop with much trepedation, but other companies throughout the world involved in production of EVs have CEO's  thinking along the same lines as this company:  Better get in on the Lithium resource market while the getting is good!  Tesla is but only one potential customer for the future production at Thacker Pass... we have the whole rest of the world, well... maybe exclusive of China, but LAC still has a lot of potential suitors willing to punch her dance card.  Things are looking mighty good, when we take a view that incorporates the next 2 to 3 years, the view that incorporates the time period when Thacker Pass becomes on line with production.

See the whole article that I have taken bits and pieces from above:  

https://www.mining.com/web/chinese-battery-maker-may-buy-more-metals-before-prices-lift/?utm_source=Daily_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MNG-DIGESTS&utm_content=chinese-battery-maker-may-buy-more-metals-before-prices-lift