A rotor for a permanent magnet electric machine includes a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet bundles located at the rotor core. Each permanent magnet bundle includes a first magnet of a first magnetic material and a second magnet of a second magnetic material located radially outboard of the first magnet. The second magnet has an increased resistance to demagnetization relative to the first magnet. A permanent magnet electric machine includes a stator and a rotor magnetically interactive with the stator. The rotor includes a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet bundles located at the rotor core. Each permanent magnet bundle includes a first magnet of a first magnetic material and a second magnet of a second magnetic material located radially outboard of the first magnet. The second magnet has an increased resistance to de-magnetization relative to the first magnet.