ABB India Unveils Rare-Earth-Free IE5 Induction Motors

ABB India announced a ₹140 crore expansion and an IE5 ultra-premium efficiency motor line that avoids rare-earth magnets.
The new range is specified at 45–1000 kW and uses induction (not permanent magnets), with compatibility for direct-on-line (DOL) starts and variable-frequency drives (VFDs).
ABB has commercial IE5 offerings based on synchronous reluctance (SynRM) elsewhere, but the India launch emphasizes an induction route tuned for heavy industry, suggesting manufacturing maturity rather than a lab prototype.
Globally SynRM updates have tended to top out nearer 450 kW; the India announcement positions induction IE5 up to 1 MW for sectors where size and weight are less critical (metals, cement, paper). Pricing, lead times and verified field performance remain to be demonstrated.
Coverage links the product to China’s April 2025 export controls on certain rare-earth elements, and while the policy shift increases incentive to avoid magnets, ABB’s magnet-free efforts predate 2025—so this appears to be strategic hedging as well as efficiency focus.
Technically, induction IE5 trades torque-density for robustness and ease of supply; it suits fixed-speed or VFD-driven plant equipment but is less attractive for weight-sensitive uses like EV traction. Watch for lifecycle TCO data, order flow, and third-party validation before declaring a market shift.