VIMAG Labs, a startup based in Bengaluru, has developed an electric vehicle motor that operates without rare-earth magnets [1, 2].
The breakthrough targets the global supply chain for EV components. By replacing permanent magnets with a software-controlled “virtual magnet” architecture, the company aims to sidestep Chinese export controls and reduce India's reliance on Chinese rare-earth materials [1, 2, 3].
CEO Manish Sehgal said the technology allows for a motor that maintains performance without the need for materials often subject to geopolitical tension [1, 2]. The company has filed five patents related to this rare-earth-free motor technology [2].
To support the development and scaling of this architecture, VIMAG Labs has secured $5 million in funding [2]. The software-driven approach allows the motor to simulate the magnetic fields typically provided by physical rare-earth magnets, a shift that could lower production costs and environmental impact associated with rare-earth mining [1, 3].
Industry analysts note that the transition to magnet-free motors is a priority for several global automakers seeking to diversify their sourcing. VIMAG Labs is positioning its virtual magnet system as a viable alternative for mass-market electric vehicles [2, 3].
“VIMAG Labs has developed an electric vehicle motor that operates without rare-earth magnets.”
This development represents a strategic move to decouple the EV supply chain from a single dominant supplier. If the virtual magnet architecture can scale, it reduces the vulnerability of the automotive industry to export restrictions and price volatility associated with rare-earth elements, potentially lowering the barrier to entry for domestic EV manufacturing in India.
