China’s Grip Tightens As Rare Earth Supplies Dwindle

Automakers have good reason to be anxious about rare earth minerals, with the supply now severely constrained. Because these materials are essential to countless components in today’s digitized vehicles, the squeeze is beginning to feel like a genuine crisis.

China’s dominance over rare earth production gives it significant leverage, and any disruption ripples across the global auto industry. Manufacturers are scrambling to secure alternatives, but reducing dependence on a single source is far easier said than done.