Hi Kate - it's fun to speculate and does no harm.

Personally, I don't think LAC will partner with an OEM, because the "missing link" in the US battery supply chain is cathode materials. My theory is that LAC will retain 100% of the mine (to produce Lithium Sulphate) and partner with a cathode materials producer in the chemical processing (to produce Lithium Carbonate/Hydroxide). Potential partners include BASF and Redwood.

Redwood is the "sexier" of the two, but has a very limited track record. BASF is the largest chemical company in the world and is a leader in cathode material production in Asia and Europe. Interestingly, at the Benchmark Minerals online conference in December, the head of BASF in North America talked about 1) building production capacity in North America, 2) "investing" in raw materials, 3) potential equity participation in metal processing, but not mining, and 4) a 7-10 year objective to establish a fully integrated supply chain in NA.

Check this out ...  

https://catalysts.basf.com/blog/basf-battery-in-north-america

But no doubt LAC is evaluating several options. Time will tell.