China's rare earth curbs to have significant impact on Europe's auto industry, lobby group says

MILAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Expected new Chinese curbs on rare earth metal exports could have a significant impact on the European auto industry, the head of Italian auto part maker lobby ANFIA said on Tuesday, as reserves of those materials are low.

ANFIA Chairman Roberto Vavassori told an automotive conference in Milan that manufacturers had been able to maintain production when China curbed supplies in previous months, but reserves of rare earth metals were now depleted.