GoKawiilModal Motors builds electric motors without rare-earth magnets, targets Disrupt pitch
Startup Modal Motors, founded by Michael Van Steenburg, is developing electric motors that avoid rare-earth magnets altogether, aiming to manufacture in the U.S. rather than rely on Chinese supply chains. The company is preparing two products—a small drone motor and a flat 'Hybrid Enigma Drive' motor—ahead of its appearance in Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt next month.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Van Steenburg argues that competitors 'reshoring' motor production still depend on rare-earth magnets, which he says leaves them exposed to China's dominance over that material supply for years to come. By eliminating rare-earth dependence entirely, Modal Motors could position itself as a more resilient alternative in sectors like drones and robotics, though whether its designs can match performance and cost at scale remains untested.
- Modal Motors is designing electric motors that skip rare-earth magnets entirely.
- Founder Michael Van Steenburg says U.S. domestic rare-earth supply is still years from readiness.
- The startup will pitch its drone motor and 'Hybrid Enigma Drive' at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 200.
Source: techcrunch.com — Sean O'Kane, 2026-09-23
Published there as: “Modal Motors is trying to cut China out of electric motors entirely”
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