The auto industries in both the US and Europe could come to a standstill within weeks thanks to China’s ongoing restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets. Several European car part manufacturers have already halted production lines according to the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA).

Four major automakers are racing to find workarounds to China’s stranglehold on rare-earth magnets, which they fear could force them to shut down some car production within weeks.Several traditional and electric-vehicle makers—and their suppliers—are considering shifting some auto-parts manufacturing to China to avoid looming factory shutdowns,

China has introduced a tracking system for its rare earth magnet sector, three sources said, as its export restrictions on them begin to cut off customers around the world.