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How Indian Startups are Trying to Overcome China’s Rare Earth Squeeze

In the face of Chinese export controls on rare earth minerals, Autocar Professional looks at three startups that are working on alternative technologies that can reduce the EV industry’s dependence on China.

By Shahkar Abidi

19 Jun 2025

6387 Views

How Indian Startups are Trying to Overcome China’s Rare Earth Squeeze

As China tightens its grip on rare earth exports, India's automotive industry—long reliant on the flow of high-performance materials from its northern neighbor—is making a hard pivot. A host of startups are rushing to develop magnet-free electric motor technologies or engineered substitutes to stave off supply shocks. The moves come at a juncture when India’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is poised for exponential growth and rare earth magnet inventories potentially drying up by mid-July.

Experts suggest that inventories of Indian auto companies for certain automotive applications that are dependent on rare earth supplies might be depleted by mid-July. According to ...

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