On October 23rd, YASA, a British electric motor company under Mercedes-Benz, officially unveiled its new axial flux electric motor, which set a new world record with a power density of 59kW (79 horsepower)/kg. Weighing only 12.7kg, this motor can achieve a short-term peak power of 750kW (1006 horsepower) and a continuous output power ranging from 350kW to 400kW (469 to 604 horsepower). Currently in the dynamometer testing phase, it will be equipped in Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation high-performance models such as the AMG Super Sedan in the future, marking a breakthrough in electric vehicle power technology.
Ingenious Designs Breaking Traditional Limits
Different from the radial flux motors commonly used in current electric vehicles, YASA’s new motor adopts a unique disc-shaped rotor structure and achieves a leapfrog improvement in power density through an axial magnetic field design. Its core innovation lies in the adoption of a discrete “pole piece” design and the use of Soft Magnetic Composite (SMC) instead of traditional complex laminations, which not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also significantly optimizes the motor’s cooling efficiency. In terms of the heat dissipation system, the motor innovatively adopts a combined solution of flat wires and oil cooling. Through the design of bidirectional annular oil channels in the inner and outer rings, the cooling oil can fully wrap each flat wire while realizing the simultaneous cooling of windings and stator teeth. The heat exchange efficiency is greatly improved compared with traditional oil cooling systems, providing a stable guarantee for high-power output.
Notably, this record-breaking motor does not rely on special materials and processes such as cobalt-iron laminations or 3D printing. Instead, it adopts scalable mass production technology, which can achieve an annual production capacity of 10,000 to 50,000 units at a reasonable cost, laying a foundation for its commercial application. Tim Woolmer, founder and Chief Technology Officer of YASA, emphasized: “This is not a conceptual product in the laboratory; it has been operating stably on the dynamometer and is fully practical.”
A Key Move in Layout for Electrification
This technological breakthrough stems from Mercedes-Benz’s long-term layout in the electrification track. Founded in 2009, YASA has set numerous records in various fields with its technical accumulation in axial flux motors. Its motors have powered concept cars such as the Jaguar CX75 and mass-produced supercars like the Koenigsegg Regera, and helped racing cars win championships in events such as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In July 2021, Mercedes-Benz completed the 100% equity acquisition of YASA, integrating it into its own electrification technology system, aiming to avoid the costs and risks of independent R&D while seizing core intellectual property advantages.
In the four years after the acquisition, YASA has accelerated technological iteration and capacity building. In 2023, Mercedes-Benz’s Vision One-Eleven concept car made its debut with YASA’s axial flux motor for the first time; in 2025, YASA invested 12 million pounds to build the world’s first axial flux motor super factory in Oxford, UK, with an annual capacity exceeding 25,000 units. In addition, YASA has established a strategic partnership with Lamborghini to provide customized electric drive systems for its Revuelto V12 hybrid supercar and Temerario high-performance electric vehicle, and its technical strength has been widely recognized in the industry.
Reshaping the Competitive Pattern of Electric Vehicles
The launch of YASA’s new motor will not only enhance the market competitiveness of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG series models but also is expected to promote the upgrading and iteration of global electric vehicle power technology. Data shows that the power density of leading similar motors in the current industry generally ranges from 13kW/kg to 23kW/kg, while Yasa’s new motor has achieved a doubling breakthrough with 59kW/kg. This technical advantage of high power density and lightweight can effectively reduce the overall weight of electric vehicles, while improving the cruising range and power performance, setting a new technical benchmark for segmented markets such as high-performance electric vehicles and electric supercars.
Faced with this technological breakthrough, global automakers have also accelerated the R&D layout of axial flux motors. Domestically, companies such as Zhixin Technology, Hongqi, and Xingqu Technology have launched relevant prototypes. Among them, Hongqi’s high torque density axial flux in-wheel motor has reduced its volume and weight by 50% compared with traditional products, and the cruising range has increased by 5%-10%. Industry experts analyze that with the maturity of manufacturing processes and cost reduction, axial flux motors are expected to penetrate from high-end models to the mainstream market and become an important development direction of future electric vehicle power systems.
A relevant person in charge of Mercedes-Benz stated that the new motor will first be applied to flagship models built on the AMG.EA pure electric platform, and plans to gradually expand to more product lines in the future. This motor technology revolution initiated by YASA is quietly rewriting the competitive rules of the global electric vehicle industry and bringing consumers a more efficient and powerful driving experience. According to latest industry news, this technological innovation is also attracting widespread attention from the upstream and downstream industrial chains, with many component suppliers actively carrying out technical matching and cooperation negotiations.
