Ola Electric has just made a major breakthrough in India’s EV industry, becoming the country’s first automotive brand to get government certification for its in-house developed ferrite (rare-earth-free) motor. This achievement means Ola Electric can now ditch the global supply chain headaches caused by dependence on imported rare-earth magnets—which are prone to pricing and supply issues and are largely sourced from China.
What Makes This Special?
The new ferrite motor was rigorously tested by the Global Automotive Research Centre in Tamil Nadu and met the mandatory AIS 041 standards laid out by India’s Road Transport Ministry. Despite having no rare-earth materials, it performed on par with traditional rare-earth permanent magnet motors in power—specifically for Ola’s 7kW and 11kW variants.
- The ferrite motor delivers the same efficiency, performance, and durability as rare-earth permanent magnet motors, but at much lower cost.
- It’s more resilient against supply chain disruptions, supporting India’s push for self-reliant EV production (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
- Ola first showed this motor at its ‘Sankalp 2025’ event in August 2025; now, with the certification in hand, Ola will roll out ferrite motors across its entire product lineup.
Why This Matters
- De-risks supply: By cutting out rare-earth elements, Ola safeguards itself and Indian EV buyers from global supply chain swings.
- Affordability: Production costs will drop, making future Ola EVs even more wallet-friendly.
- Performance stays strong: Ola’s engineering allows the ferrite motor to match rare-earth-based motors in day-to-day riding and reliability.
This move also positions Ola Electric—and by extension, India—as a major innovator in global electric mobility, building more robust supply chains and next-level, homegrown EV tech.
