MUMBAI, 12th June 2025: From building India’s first refrigerators to dominating refrigeration motors, Godrej Enterprises Group’s Motor Solutions division is now steering into the electric mobility era with a clear focus on rare-earth-free innovation.
The company has set a revenue target of Rs 1,000 crore by FY28, with 20% expected from exports, as global and domestic demand rises across EVs, automation, actuators, and pumps.
“We are investing significantly in R&D and advanced motor technologies to expand our footprint in EVs while actively reducing dependence on rare-earth materials,” said Xercsis Marker, EVP & Head of Motor Solutions at Godrej Enterprises Group.
Rare-Earth-Free Innovation Gains Urgency Amid Global Shortages
The push for rare-earth-free motors has gained new urgency in recent months amid tightening global supply chains. China’s export restrictions on rare earth magnets—key to high-performance electric motors—have exposed the vulnerabilities of global EV production. Indian automakers, including Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors, have been seeking regulatory relaxations to import fully assembled motors as contingency measures to prevent production disruptions starting as early as mid-July 2025.
Against this backdrop, Godrej plans to make investments in rare-earth-free motor technologies. The company is accelerating the development of advanced switched reluctance and synchronous reluctance motors, designed to match performance requirements while cutting dependence on geopolitically sensitive raw materials.
New Capacity, Global Markets
Building on its 60% domestic market share in hermetic motors for refrigeration and air-conditioning, Godrej is expanding its EV motor capabilities with a dedicated new assembly line, serving both Indian and global markets, including the US and Europe. It is also installing a precision lamination punching line from AIDA Japan to cater to the growing demand for ultra-thin laminations in EVs, aerospace, and automation.
The company has already begun supplying fully assembled motors for the off-road EV sector in the US and is preparing to produce for a German customer, along with compatible controllers.
Sustainability and Supply Chain Resilience
Godrej’s Shindewadi facility near Pune, with its 6-million-unit annual capacity and 300+ customized SKUs, anchors its growth ambitions. Certified IGBC Platinum and GreenCo Platinum Plus, the plant is water-positive, zero-waste-to-landfill, and recycles 80% of packaging waste. Its regional supplier base within a 100-km radius strengthens supply chain resilience amid ongoing global disruptions.
Legacy of Innovation Meets Electric Future
Since 1897, Godrej has been synonymous with Indian manufacturing innovation—from safes to typewriters, refrigerators to aerospace components. Now, as rare-earth geopolitics and EV disruption collide, its pivot toward rare-earth-free motors could help redefine India’s role in the global electric mobility supply chain.
