General Motors has established a long-term partnership with MP Materials to secure a reliable domestic supply of permanent magnets for electric vehicle motors, marking a significant step in building resilient supply chains for EV production.
The collaboration began in 2021 when GM became a foundational customer for MP Materials’ Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. MP Materials operates Mountain Pass in California, North America’s only active large-scale rare earth mining and refining site. By committing to long-term demand from the outset, GM provided the certainty needed for MP Materials to develop new manufacturing capabilities and scale production of automotive-grade magnets.
GM’s involvement in permanent magnet technology spans several decades. The company pioneered neodymium-based magnet production in the early 1980s and has refined the technology through successive vehicle platforms, from the first-generation Chevrolet Volt to the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Modern GM electric motors employ interior permanent magnets where the stator creates a rotating magnetic field that interacts with rotor magnets to produce torque. Recent innovations include transitioning from solid to segmented magnets to reduce heat buildup and improve efficiency.
Five years into the partnership, MP Materials is now producing automotive-grade magnets at Independence while GM teams validate them at testing laboratories in Pontiac, Michigan. This integrated supply chain connects raw materials extraction in California, magnet manufacturing in Texas, and motor development and validation in Michigan—exemplifying GM’s “buy where we build” approach to supply chain resilience.
GM emphasizes that successful supply chain development relies on capable suppliers, aligned goals, and sustained collaboration over multiple years, combined with the willingness to invest before all technical challenges are resolved. The partnership demonstrates how long-term strategic thinking can transform supply chain networks into competitive advantages for vehicle manufacturers and their customers.
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