India is fast-tracking the development and testing of rare-earth-free electric vehicle (EV) motors as China tightens export controls on critical minerals, underscoring the urgency of building supply chain independence in the country’s fast-growing EV industry.
China, which dominates over 90% of the world’s rare-earth processing, introduced new restrictions earlier this year, limiting shipments of key minerals used in EV motors and batteries. While the United States and Europe have regained partial access, India remains excluded, leaving its automakers vulnerable to material shortages and price fluctuations.
Testing new rare-earth alternatives
To counter this challenge, Indian companies are intensifying innovation in motor technologies that eliminate or reduce rare-earth reliance.
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Sterling Gtake E-Mobility, in collaboration with the UK-based Advanced Electric Machines, has begun testing high-density reluctance motors. These designs replace rare-earth magnets with metal coils, offering a more sustainable and cost-stable alternative. Seven major Indian automakers are currently evaluating prototypes, with commercial production targeted within the next year—well ahead of the previously estimated 2029 timeline.
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Other players like Sona Comstar and Chara Technologies are working on lighter rare-earth-based and completely magnet-free alternatives.
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Pune-based Conifer is reviving ferrite magnet motors, an older but more affordable and geopolitically secure technology.
Government support and global partnerships
The Indian government is actively backing these efforts with incentives for domestic mining, processing, and R&D. Additionally, New Delhi is exploring strategic partnerships with Japan and South Korea to bolster local magnet production capacity, diversifying away from Chinese dependence.
Officials say that fostering indigenous technology alongside new international collaborations will help India safeguard its EV transition from supply disruptions.
Strategic significance
Rare-earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium are vital in producing the permanent magnets that power most EV motors today. With global EV demand soaring, China’s dominance in rare-earth processing has become a major geopolitical lever.
India, which has set ambitious targets for EV adoption to curb emissions and reduce oil imports, sees magnet-free motors as both a technological breakthrough and a national security necessity. By accelerating trials and moving to commercialise alternative designs by 2026, the country is positioning itself as a leader in next-generation EV technologies.
Industry outlook
Experts believe that if India succeeds in scaling rare-earth-free motors, it could not only shield domestic automakers from supply shocks but also open export opportunities to other markets facing similar vulnerabilities.
The next 12–18 months are expected to be critical, as automakers validate the performance, cost efficiency, and scalability of these new motor designs. If successful, India could rewrite the EV motor playbook, reducing global dependence on China’s mineral exports.
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