MATTER ties up with Niron Magnetics to Develop Rare-Earth-Free High-Performance EV Motors

MATTER on Tuesday announced a strategic collaboration with Niron Magnetics to develop next-generation electric motor technologies for electric motorcycles. Through this partnership, MATTER will explore the integration of Niron Magnetics’ Iron Nitride magnet technology and Variable Flux Motor (VFM) designs into its future electric motorbike platforms, with the aim of boosting performance while reducing dependence on rare earth materials.

Electric vehicles today rely heavily on rare earth elements, a dependency that brings environmental concerns and exposure to volatile global supply chains. The MATTER–Niron collaboration seeks to address this challenge by combining MATTER’s expertise in liquid-cooled powertrains, in-house gearbox development and intelligent vehicle systems with Niron Magnetics’ rare-earth-free Iron Nitride permanent magnets. Together, the companies aim to deliver improvements in torque delivery, efficiency across speed ranges, acceleration and riding range, without compromising sustainability. The first prototype emerging from this collaboration was unveiled at CES 2026.

According to Mr. Prasad Telikapalli, Founder and Group CTO of MATTER, the company’s long-term focus has been on building future-ready electric mobility solutions that combine high performance with technological self-reliance. He said Iron Nitride technology represents a major shift in electric motor capability and offers an opportunity to redefine two-wheeler propulsion at a global level.

Mr. Mohal Lalbhai, Founder and Group CEO of MATTER, said integrating Niron Magnetics’ VFM technology into MATTER’s platform removes long-standing limits on speed, efficiency and sustainability, enabling a new generation of high-performance electric mobility engineered in India.

Variable Flux Motors play a central role in the collaboration. Unlike conventional electric motors, VFMs overcome the traditional trade-off between low-speed torque and high-speed efficiency. For electric motorcycles, this means quicker acceleration, better control in stop-and-go city traffic, more efficient cruising and improved thermal stability—factors that are especially important in India’s diverse and demanding riding conditions. These gains are enabled by Niron Magnetics’ Iron Nitride magnets, which deliver high performance without the use of rare earth elements or critical minerals.

Mr. Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics, said the partnership with MATTER provides an ideal platform to demonstrate how Iron Nitride magnets can unlock new possibilities in high-performance electric mobility. He added that MATTER’s technology-first mindset and deep powertrain expertise make it a strong partner for scaling rare-earth-free magnet solutions into real-world applications.

The collaboration comes at a time when global electrification is accelerating and concerns around rare earth supply chains are becoming increasingly strategic. By combining MATTER’s system-level EV innovation with Niron Magnetics’ scalable magnet technology, the two companies aim to contribute to a more resilient, sustainable and globally competitive electric vehicle ecosystem.