As part of its already-announced US manufacturing effort, Apple is committing $500 million to a rare earth recycling firm, to develop new materials that it will use in future devices including the iPhone.
It's already been reported that the iPhone 16 could benefit from redesigned magnets for MagSafe, and also that Apple has looked at using magnets to help cool overheating devices. Now Apple has announced a plan to work with Texas firm MP Materials on a range of projects to increase the firm's use of US-made rare earth magnets.
"American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we're proud to deepen our investment in the US economy," Tim Cook said . "Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States."
"We couldn't be more excited about the future of American manufacturing," he continued, "and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people."
As part of the deal, Apple will spend $500 million over the next four years. It will see MP Materials' facility in Fort Worth be expanded with what Apple says is a "series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products."
This will reportedly boost overall production of magnets at this main MP Materials factory. But the two companies are also going to establish a rare earth recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California.
Apple says that the aim is to develop "novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance." US-made magnets will ultimately be shipped bother across the country, and around the world.
Apple already operates an R&D facility in Austin, Texas - Image Credit: AppleIt's claimed that the new projects and increased production will support dozens of new jobs across R&D and manufacturing. Apple says it and MP Materials will create new pool of US expertise in magnet manufacturing.
Apple already works with MP Materials
MP Materials operates the only rare earth mine and processing facility in the US. In 2018, it was affected by the the tariff battle between Trump's first administration and China.
The company said at the time that the tariffs created a "" — and the tariff it was facing was just 10% then.
The following year, Apple began working with MP Materials, meaning that the new deal comes around half a decade since the companies partnered on rare earth projects. Their joint efforts have included piloting new recycling techniques, and Apple says that "nearly all" magnets used in its devices are now made with 100% recycled material.
Specifically, Apple says now that that this collaboration began in 2019 with the introduction of recycled rare earth elements with the Taptic Engine of the iPhone 11.
The newly-announced deal with MP Materials is part of Apple's already-announced $500 billion commitment to US manufacturing. That announcement was seen as a political move to appears Trump's demands that Apple invest more in the US, and in fact was all funds that had already been allocated to American manufacturing.
The deal with MP Materials to invest $500 million over the next four years has not previously been singled-out for announcement. However, Apple says that it is coming from that $500 billion pot, from Apple's existing US Advanced Manufacturing Fund, first launched in 2017.
