Astemo Unveils Iron-Based Magnet Electric Motor to Reduce Rare Earth Dependence

Japanese manufacturer Astemo unveiled a development of an automotive engine in which the magnetic field is produced using iron-based magnets. According to the company, this engine topology allows maintaining competitive performance with conventional models. Mass production of the new engine is planned to begin around 2030 so that it can enter the assembly lines of various car brands in the future.

In the context of the global trend toward reducing dependence on critical minerals, Japanese component manufacturers are working on electric motors for transportation that significantly reduce the use of rare-earth elements. Typically, to increase output power, neodymium magnets, which are highly sensitive to supply, have a main supplier concentrated in one of the major wholesale-market countries. Astemo's head of R&D, Takahashi Akeshi, emphasized that the acquisition of critical minerals is always associated with risks, so the company is seeking ways to ensure more stable supply chains.

"Our mission is to continuously deliver high-performance engines.

We developed this engine to achieve that goal."

The industry also has other projects in engine development that do not require rare-earth minerals, which signals an overall trend toward more sustainable and diversified supply chains in the automotive industry.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, attention to policy and practices regarding the supply chains of critical minerals is growing, pushing manufacturers toward innovation and rethinking approaches to materials in future engines.