大象传媒

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast's stock market valuation has soared above Ford and General Motors (GM) on its first day of trading.

And many of the raw materials needed to make electric cars are mined in Africa. Yet, the continent often misses out on the key profits made from refining minerals like cobalt, lithium and manganese, according to a new UN report.

It鈥檚 a year since President Biden kickstarted a race to develop and grow green energy and clean technology with the largest ever programme of investment and subsidies - otherwise known as the Inflation Reduction Act. Some say it has left Europe and other parts of the world lagging with companies choosing the US to build new factories.

(The VF-8 electric vehicle from VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker producing electric cars and SUV's, is displayed at their showroom in Santa Monica, California. Picture Credit: Getty Images)