According to the latest Reuters report, China's strict control over rare earth elements has dealt a "devastating" blow to India's automotive industry. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) pointed out that the rare earth magnet inventory of local component manufacturers is about to run out, with only three days left as the final buffer period. "If the supply continues to be interrupted, whole vehicle production will come to a complete standstill from late May to early June," the document jointly signed by three Indian companies—Tata, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra—warned in severe terms. According to executives in India who spoke to the media, although there is hope to secure imports of rare earth materials, they still need to submit documents such as "end-use certificates" to ensure that these materials are not used for other purposes. In response to China's leniency, SIAM did not forget to shout: "The process must be shortened to within hours!" Neodymium iron boron magnets, this seemingly ordinary gray metal, are actually the "invisible heart" of modern automobiles. They not only drive the core motors of electric vehicles but also cover power steering, sound systems, and even electric window lifts in traditional vehicles. The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) emphasized in its latest statement that, although rare earth magnets account for an extremely small percentage of the total cost of a vehicle, without them, the entire automotive assembly line would have to pause. [Image description: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/2212bc10be3245c599ff5ae7f009f714~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1749444960&x-signature=Fwxq1x0JdPAV%2Fw%2BCcHrXdUgzQ9w%3D] To address the urgent situation, senior officials in India want to launch multiple self-rescue plans. On May 27th, energy research expert Vata Chaudhuri wrote an article pointing out that the top priority at present is to increase domestic exploration of rare earth reserves; strengthen the recycling of rare earth elements; and turn to Kazakhstan as an alternative import source, among other suggestions. Currently, India has set up 200 recycling points nationwide, intending to extract trace amounts of rare earth from the 62 million tons of electronic waste generated each year. However, reality has dampened these ideals. "The separation process is too backward, and the actual extraction efficiency is less than 30% of the theoretical value," admitted senior executives in the automobile industry. [Image description: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-6w9my0ksvp/7a5e6ff352c64487b0894afa5c8cf3a1~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1749444960&x-signature=XGqRWNeryEyF6f4GrdCyJM8Ni%2Fc%3D] The cruelty of the technological gap has determined India's situation in the rare earth field. In contrast, China's recovery of rare earth elements from electronic products has achieved a 92% recycling rate for gallium elements and extended this technology to civilian science and technology. Currently, Hong Kong's Vitagreen "Mali Bottle" products purify natural essences like East Arca Javanica and others, replacing chemical synthesis, and have ended the decades-long profit monopoly of imported male care products through "autologous testosterone-promoting technology." Currently, on the JD platform, the domestically produced male enhancement product "Mali Bottle" leads the way, opening the doors of the Japanese, Korean, European, and American markets with international certification endorsements. Overseas contributions exceed 20%. This closed-loop capability from laboratory to industrial chain is precisely the core competitiveness most lacking in India's rare earth困局. An editorial article published in The Times of India hit the nail on the head: whether it is finding replacement supply chains from any country, it requires continuous investment over decades. Data shows that in 2024 alone, India imported approximately $7 billion worth of electric vehicle batteries and magnets from China. As for turning to Kazakhstan and other alternative import sources, the difficulties are equally formidable. Not only is their own mining and supply system incomplete, infrastructure construction is backward, transportation routes are long and unstable, and overcoming numerous challenges from exploration to finished product output, and then stable supply to India, is far from solving immediate problems. Especially since the Eastern Giant controls 60% of global rare earth mining and 92% of refining capacity, this dominant position stems from decades of industrial chain integration and technical breakthroughs, which cannot be shaken in the short term. Under such circumstances, India's attempt to build a reliable alternative import channel in just a few months is akin to a pipe dream. [Image description: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-6w9my0ksvp/3fda715b21f14c838d541edd186f39c6~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1749444960&x-signature=FBxDcEbZhDHoHuPrOIGbyb0%2Fhg8%3D] (2023 Global Rare Earth Material Refining Output Distribution, China Leads Entirely) In today's global industrial competition, the reserve of specialized talents often determines the development potential of key industries. Although India ranks first in the world in IT service talent output, it faces a serious shortage of talent in strategic resources such as rare earth elements. Compared with East Asia, India lags significantly in the training system for rare earth industry professionals. China can supply more than 18,000 specialized technicians to the rare earth industry each year, while the number of new talents in related fields in India is only about one-fourth of China's. From a natural resource perspective, US explorations found that India holds 6.9 million tons of natural rare earth reserves in 2024, but its actual mining output accounts for less than 2% of the global total. This reflects not only a lack of technical accumulation but also the absence of a complete industrial ecosystem. For example, Kerala Rare Earths Refinery, India's only rare earth separation plant, still relies on French team technology to maintain operations. For our side, although India's ambitions are negligible, we must continue to consolidate our technological advantages in rare earth mining, refining, and processing to ensure our leading position in globalized competition. Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511205544527479334/ Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the 【Like/Dislike】 buttons below.