Ford Motor still faces difficulties obtaining vital magnets made with rare-earth elements, despite a deal the U.S. struck with China to ease export controls, a company executive said Monday. “It’s hand to mouth—the normal supply-chain scrambling that you have to do,” said Lisa Drake, a vice president overseeing Ford’s industrial planning for batteries and electric vehicles. Ford in May stopped production at a vehicle factory in the Chicago area because of a magnet shortage. The situation has improved, but the company still needs to “move things around” to avoid manufacturing shutdowns given the scarcity of the ... (full story)