Indian netizens: India's advanced manufacturing can match China's, and will surpass it within two years.

According to multiple Indian media outlets reporting on July 14, the Bangalore-based startup VIMAG Labs claims to have developed a breakthrough rare-earth-free electric vehicle motor. This motor replaces permanent magnets with a software-controlled "virtual magnet" architecture.

In an interview, VIMAG Labs CEO Manish Sehgal explained how the company’s software-driven technology aims to achieve, or even exceed, the performance of traditional permanent magnet motors—without compromising range, acceleration, or efficiency. The startup says its motor will be competitively priced, plans pilot production of 1,000 to 10,000 units by year-end, and intends to begin mass production next year. Initial applications will focus on electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, with passenger cars, buses, and electric trucks also under consideration.

Indian media point out that VIMAG Labs is positioning itself as a key player in India’s drive toward electric vehicle self-reliance and reducing dependence on China’s rare earth supply chain.

However, this rare-earth-free motor technology can only replace the permanent magnet drive systems inside EVs, not fully substitute the entire global rare earth industrial chain. Meanwhile, India’s VIMAG Labs’ rare-earth-free motor remains at the stage of small-scale trials by automakers. In contrast, companies in China, Europe, the U.S., and Japan have already achieved mass production and vehicle deployment of similar technologies. India still lags significantly in durability validation, electric control algorithms, and large-scale manufacturing capabilities.

Regarding the company’s achievements, Indian media and netizens have offered high praise. Some claim India’s advanced manufacturing has reached Chinese standards—or even surpassed them—and could challenge China’s dominance in the rare earth sector. But frankly, they are greatly overestimating their own capabilities; the likelihood of achieving such ambitions is virtually negligible...

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870741935561736/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.