This would make LG Energy the first EV battery company able to...

This would make LG Energy the first EV battery company able to mine and refine minerals and produce batteries in Nth America for U.S. Car Manufacturers.

Yes I think LG would have to be the most likely contender for a partnership with Elevra and post merger is the time when any hopefulls sitting on the sideline are going to have to make decisions.
Looking back it seems obvious now that the merger had to happen before any satisfactory deal was going to materialise and any potential partner would have made that very clear IMO and were quite likely the driving force .
LG has already seen a lot of their $US75m equity investment in Piedmont evaporate ( Its not just the small retail investors that get their timing wrong.. ) and are likely keen to try and rectify that situation over time.

Both Tesla and LG have a reason to help keep Elevra viable and both have offtake options coming up that need renewing , Tesla's coming up this year and LG Chem in 2027.

Interesting times but first priority is getting the merger over the line.

Cheers Whisky