Modal Motors pursues rare-earth-free motors to reduce China reliance

Detroit startup Modal Motors, founded by Michael Van Steenburg, is developing electric motors without rare-earth magnets to separate U.S. production from China's supply chain. It uses a patent-pending transverse flux design, a motor layout that directs magnetic force more efficiently, built on a USA-and-allied supply chain. It was selected as a Startup Battlefield 200 company for TechCrunch Disrupt.