rkeeb:  "Oh, and might Elon have overstated their desire or intentions to go ahead with their own mine to put pressure on LAC during negotiations? Why would he not?"

That makes sense to me.  I don't think Elon Musk is in near as strong a position to negotiate price from a lithium supplier as he has been in the past.  There is a lot more competition for lithium supplies now than when Elon Musk secured his bottom of the barrel priced Off Takes in the past.  JMO   Okiedo