Simple Energy Pioneers Rare Earth-Free Motor Technology in India

Simple Energy has announced a significant breakthrough by becoming the first Indian company to commercially produce electric motors without heavy rare earth magnets. The achievement comes at a time when China’s restrictions on rare earth exports have disrupted global EV supply chains, underlining the importance of domestic alternatives.

The China Rare Earth Problem

China controls close to 90 percent of global rare earth output, making automakers heavily dependent on imports. When Beijing restricted exports of heavy rare earths in 2025, several manufacturers were forced to slow or stop production.

Simple Energy avoided this exposure by developing motors that use compound materials instead of neodymium-boron-iron or samarium-cobalt magnets. Proprietary control software manages heat and torque delivery, ensuring performance that matches conventional motors.

Proven in Real-World Use

Unlike many magnet-free concepts still in prototype stages globally, Simple Energy has already put this technology into commercial production. Motors using the new design are fitted to the company’s electric scooters now on sale, meaning the technology has cleared the transition from lab testing to market deployment.

The company reports that testing under Indian road conditions shows torque density and efficiency comparable to magnet-based motors, with no compromises in reliability. By keeping the design in-house, Simple Energy has shortened its development cycles and shown it can refine and roll out updated versions faster than the supplier-driven industry norm.

The Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu, spanning 200,000 square feet, now produces these motors with 95 percent localisation. This level of domestic content makes the supply chain more secure and sets up the company to scale output without relying on imported components.

With 42 retail outlets today and a plan to reach 100 by the end of the year, Simple Energy is building the sales and service footprint needed to match production growth. The technology has already supported sales volumes in the tens of thousands per month, giving confidence that it can scale further as demand increases.

The breakthrough has given the company an edge during a period of tight supply in the wider industry. While rivals faced rising costs or delayed launches due to rare earth shortages, Simple Energy kept production steady and maintained deliveries. That timing allowed it to win market share while others were constrained.

The development also fits into India’s larger EV strategy. By proving that rare earth-free motors can be made locally at scale, Simple Energy has shown a path toward reducing dependence on imports, lowering costs over time, and addressing environmental issues linked to rare earth mining.

Other global suppliers, including names like MAHLE, are working on similar approaches, but Simple Energy’s step into mass production puts India among the leaders in this space. The technology is not just theoretical: it is already proven in real-world vehicles and ready to be expanded further.

For customers, the difference may not be visible in day-to-day use, but it means greater supply stability, fewer risks of shortages, and potentially more affordable EVs in the long run. For the industry, it sets a precedent: critical components for electric mobility can be engineered and scaled domestically without depending on imported rare earths.