Magnets of Disruption: How China’s Grip on Rare Earths Is Stalling India’s EV Dreams
As China tightens its grip on rare earth exports, Indian automakers risk delayed launches, disrupted festive season production and a recalibration of their electrification timelines.
They lack the sleek appeal of a scooter's body panel or the obvious presence of its touchscreen dashboard. But rare-earth magnets—small, dense, and tucked away deep inside electric motors—are what give EVs their zip, silence, and efficiency. For years, Indian electric vehicle makers barely gave them a second thought, as supplies quietly flowed in from abroad. But a slow-burning overdependence on China has turned these unassuming components into a strategic headache.
At EV-focused firms like Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors and TVS Motor, conversations once dominated by battery costs and design upgrades are now circling around a new ...
RELATED ARTICLES
India's Great Tyre Build-Out
India’s tyre makers are entering a Rs 18,000-crore investment cycle as factories run near capacity and demand shifts tow...
Local Powertrain Manufacturing, Product Mix Change Drive 8.9 Percent Net Profit Growth at CNH India
In-house assembly at Pithampur yields a 20 percent engine procurement cost advantage as global supply chains face headwi...
JCB India Targets Farm Logistics, Bridging the Gap Between Tractors and Backhoes
JCB India eyes a 20,000-unit addressable agri-handling market to formalize farm-gate logistics with factory-built altern...



15 Jul 2025
Autocar Professional Bureau

Shahkar Abidi