China's car demand has fueled plans to dig one of the world's first new lead mines in decades, AFP reported. Analysts said today's demand for lead comes almost solely from carmakers, which equip vehicles with lead-acid batteries. Diesel-driven cars and an increase in electronics in new vehicles also increased demand for lead. Ian Gould, managing director of Abra Mining, says his firm is searching 10 square kilometers of lead-bearing ore veins in a remote area of Western Australia after raising US$6.6 million in an IPO of 36 million shares. The deposit was discovered a quarter century ago, but remained undeveloped due to depressed prices and a dim outlook for future demand through the 1980s and 90s.