Startup company Modal Motors has announced the development of a new line of electric motors designed to function without the use of rare-earth magnets. These components are specifically engineered for use in small-scale applications, including drones, industrial fans, and robotics. By eliminating the need for rare-earth materials, the company intends to bypass the current global supply chain reliance on China, which currently dominates the production and processing of these specific magnetic elements.

While the company has positioned this move as a strategic shift toward supply chain independence, the technical specifications and production scalability of these motors remain in the early stages. The primary focus of the technology is to maintain high performance in lightweight hardware while removing the geopolitical risks associated with sourcing rare-earth minerals. No specific timeline for mass production or commercial availability has been provided by the company at this time.