The million-dollar question is whether Japan's strategic...

The million-dollar question is whether Japan's strategic positioning with regards REE and Lynas, a very long play already, will be considered an acceptable foundation by Honda /  Toyota designers and strategizers. 

Not long ago, I was very skeptical of that eventuality and my evaluation instead focused on the many markets I thought mattered. 

The sole source problem was only one issue.  The other was the fact that there simply wasn't enough Nd/Pr on Earth for a globally-significant conversion to electric traction drive without the invention of new extraction and separation technologies.  This is an area of some exowrtise of mine, and that sort of advance is NOT something I suspect we will see anytime soon. Molecular recognition is not what its cracked up to be. 

The rise of low-REE-content PMA-SRMs and of the upcoming low-REE-content magnets was/is a MUST if we are to see REE-enabled traction drive being the technology of choice.  On this count, I am much encouraged by Tesla's continued use of REEs.  BECAUSE it only amounts to 1/10 of standard NdFeB-PMMs, it is a far more sustainable technological track.

Nicer to have a smaller piece of a bigger pie, than no pie at all.