Manish Seth’s Vimag Labs has secured its fifth Indian patent for a software-defined electric motor that eliminates rare-earth magnets.
What Vimag Labs Actually Built
Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Vimag Labs received the patent, titled “A Robust Rotating Transformer Excited Synchronous Motor and Its Control,” covering the core design of its proprietary Virtual Magnet Synchronous Motor (VMSM) platform. The technology represents a fundamental departure from conventional Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), which rely on fixed rare-earth magnets embedded directly in the rotor. Instead, VMSM generates and controls its magnetic field in real time through advanced power electronics and proprietary control algorithms, producing a brushless, slip-ring-free synchronous motor that the company says can match or even surpass the performance of traditional permanent magnet motors — without using any magnets at all.
Manish Seth on the Milestone
Manish Seth, co-founder and CEO of Vimag Labs, described the achievement in terms of the sheer engineering effort behind it: the patent is the outcome of more than 87,600 engineering hours, and it strengthens the company’s commercial roadmap across OEM partnerships, licensing, and manufacturing scale-up. Seth, an engineer and MBA with 18 years of experience in the automotive sector, framed the company’s broader ambitions around global electrification, saying the innovation strengthens India’s deep-tech capabilities across electric mobility, power electronics, robotics, defence, and clean-energy systems.
Why Removing Rare-Earth Magnets Matters
The strategic logic behind Vimag Labs’ approach centers on a well-known supply chain vulnerability: rare-earth magnets, essential to most modern EV motors, are sourced overwhelmingly from China. For automotive and industrial OEMs, a magnet-free platform offers a dual advantage — lower motor costs and freedom from that concentrated supply chain risk. The technology also aligns directly with India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) policy initiatives, which push for domestic development of critical technologies rather than dependence on imported components.
A Growing Patent Portfolio and Funding Momentum
This fifth patent adds to a portfolio that already spans motor design, software controls, power electronics, and related technologies. The milestone comes shortly after Vimag Labs closed a $5 million Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Accel, with additional participation from Chakra Growth Fund and Thinkuvate. The company has also signed a manufacturing memorandum of understanding with Jendamark Pvt. Ltd. to support large-scale production of its VMSM motors, signaling a shift from research-stage development toward actual commercial manufacturing capacity.
Where the Technology Is Headed Next
Vimag Labs currently has active pilots underway with established two-wheeler and passenger car manufacturers, with plans to expand into light commercial vehicles, heavier commercial vehicles, and industrial systems ranging from 200 kW to 600 kW. The company is also developing applications beyond road vehicles, including robotics, defence systems, and cooling technology — a signal that Vimag Labs sees VMSM less as a single automotive product and more as a foundational motor platform applicable across multiple industries that currently depend on rare-earth-based designs.
What This Signals for India’s Deep-Tech Sector
Manish Seth’s Vimag Labs is part of a broader wave of Indian deep-tech startups working to reduce the country’s dependence on imported critical technologies, particularly in electric mobility. Whether VMSM ultimately achieves the commercial scale Seth is targeting will depend on how OEM partnerships translate from pilot programs into full production orders — but the combination of a growing patent portfolio, fresh Series A capital, and an active manufacturing partnership puts the company in a stronger position than most early-stage startups working on similarly ambitious hardware bets.