Modern automobiles use many permanent magnets in various electromagnetic components for comfort, safety and better fuel economy. In Japan, the annual use of permanent magnets for automobiles in 1997 accounted for 37% of the total production for ferrite magnets and 6% for rare-earth magnets. Ferrite sintered magnets are used in starters, wipers, fanmotors, window regulators, fuel-pump motors, etc. A fully-equipped car has more than 30 DC electric motors. Rare-earth sintered magnets are used in anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensors, cam-angle sensors, revolution speed sensors, ignition coils, etc.

Recently, the use of rare-earth magnets has increased dramatically, because of standard equipment of ABS sensors for safety and motors for electric vehicles (EV's). Most of EV's and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV's) employ permanent magnet synchronous motors to improve their efficiency. One traction motor of an EV's or a HEV's requires a few kilograms of high performance NdFeB sintered magnets.

This paper describes the current status and future trends of permanent magnets in automotive applications.