Highlights

• China has imposed strict export controls on neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets.
• This has caused severe disruptions in European automotive production.
• With over 90% of magnet-making capacity in China, Western industries face significant supply chain challenges in critical raw materials.
• Companies like Pensana are seeking to create alternative rare earth magnet production solutions to reduce dependency on Chinese exports.

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Europe’s automotive supply chain is under acute pressure following China’s intensification of export controls on critical rare earth materials—specifically neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets, the beating heart of modern electric motors, sensors, and control systems.

Under new rules enforced by Beijing, all exports of rare earth magnets now require state-issued licenses. Fewer than 25% of applications have been approved to date, resulting in severe disruptions to European automotive production lines. From automatic transmissions to seatbelt tensioners and EV drive units, key components are grinding toward a halt, reports Pensana Plc (opens in a new tab).

A joint letter from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation—representing major U.S. and international automakers—was sent to the Trump administration last week calling for decisive action.

“Without reliable access to these elements and magnets,” the letter reads, “automotive suppliers will be unable to produce critical components.”

The fallout in Europe is already visible. The German automotive industry association (VDA) has sounded the alarm. President Hildegard Müller stated:

“The Chinese export restrictions on rare earths are a serious challenge for the security of supply, not just in automotive, but across industrial sectors.”

The timing is no accident. As the West races to decarbonize and electrify, China’s asymmetric control over the midstream rare earth supply chain, particularly separation and magnet production, gives it unmatched leverage. With over 90% of magnet-making capacity located in China, the continent now finds itself in a precarious position.

Pensana’s construction kickoff of its magnet metal processing facility in the UK—supported by a fresh £25 million equity drawdown—couldn’t come at a more critical time. The company positions itself as a rare beacon of independence in a market skewed by Chinese dominance. It's Longonjo mine in Angola and downstream processing at Saltend aim to offer a “mine-to-magnet” solution for European automakers desperate for diversification.

A spokesperson from Mercedes-Benz confirmed the gravity of the situation:

“As a matter of principle, Mercedes-Benz has a strategy for all critical raw materials... fully aware that raw material deposits are limited in some regions.”

Critical Questions Remain:

• Is the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act moving fast enough to counter China’s supply throttling, or is Brussels still too reliant on bureaucratic inertia?
• Will the Trump administration include rare earths in its upcoming emergency economic executive orders, or will the U.S. remain paralyzed by internal divisions?
• Can private sector initiatives like Pensana scale fast enough to meet immediate OEM demand, or are stopgap measures like stockpiling and material substitution the only near-term play?

For now, the clock is ticking. Unless Western industrial and political leaders move beyond rhetoric, the rare earth squeeze may soon become an industrial chokehold.