General Motors (GM.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said on Wednesday they will put resources into startup Niron Magnetics, part of an arrangement to foster electric-vehicle magnets without intriguing earths as the auto business intends to check its dependence on China.

The automakers joined Niron’s most recent $33 million financing round and want to team up to assist with creating long-lasting magnets worked without uncommon earths, a stage that would, if effective, reshape how the materials are utilized for the change to EVs.

“Permanent magnets are the unsung heroes and essential components of countless parts of your vehicle,” Niron President Jonathan Rowntree told columnists on a call. “Where they have the greatest impact for GM is in the drivetrain to their future EVs. Today, roughly 90% of the rare-earth magnet supply is dependent upon China.”

The move follows China’s declaration in October that it would require send out grants for some graphite items, which are likewise utilized in EVs, to safeguard public safety.

Monetary terms of the Niron round were not revealed by the organizations, but rather an individual acquainted with the arrangement, who asked not to be distinguished, said GM contributed $7 million and Stellantis $5 million.

“We believe Niron’s unique technology can play a key role in reducing rare earth minerals from EV motors and help us further scale our North American-based supply chain for EVs,” GM Adventures President Anirvan Coomer said.

Super durable magnets are basically the engines of an EV, assisting with moving power into movement.

EV engines comprise of parts ordinarily produced using interesting earth minerals like terbium, dysprosium, praseodymium and neodymium, which are costly and at present handled as a rule abroad.

“Making powerful magnets from plentiful commodity materials decouples new production from rare earth mine development and lowers overall environmental impact,” Stellantis Adventures overseeing accomplice Adam Bazih said.

Minneapolis-based Niron said it trusts its iron nitride magnet – which it has marked as a Spotless Earth Magnet – is more attractive than a customary long-lasting magnet made with neodymium and praseodymium.

“There’s a lot of manufacturing steps and a lack of price transparency in this industry with rare earths, given the concentration of supplies in China,” Niron Ranking executive Tom Grainger said.

The arrangement comes regardless of GM’s 2021 consent to purchase interesting earth magnets from MP Materials (MP.N). MP has attempted to refine its own uncommon earths in California, however has been building a magnet office in Texas.