Indian firms plot to break free of China rare earth control

Indian auto component and two-wheeler makers have devised a plan to break free from China’s stranglehold on magnets: replace heavy rare-earth elements with light ones, or better yet, build magnet-free automotive motors.

- Ayaan Kartik

Sona Comstar, the country’s eighth largest automobile parts maker, has developed new motors using light rare earth elements like cerium, samarium and neodymium, according to a top company executive. Ather Energy Ltd’s co-founder and chief executive Tarun Mehta, too, told Mint that the two-wheeler industry can move towards light rare earth magnets.

Meanwhile, Ola Electric’s founder and managing director Bhavish Aggarwal informed investors on Monday that the company has developed magnet-free motors, which will be installed in vehicles whose deliveries will start in the October to December quarter.