Detroit startup builds electric motors without Chinese materials

Detroit startup Modal Motors, founded by Michael Van Steenburg, is building electric motors without rare-earth magnets, materials largely controlled by China, to separate U.S. production from China's supply network. It uses a patent-pending motor design that routes magnetic power differently and sources parts from the U.S. and allies. It was picked as a Startup Battlefield 200 company for TechCrunch Disrupt.