Yasa

Market position

YASA describes itself as the world's leading manufacturer of axial flux electric motors and controllers for hybrid and electric vehicles, positioned against the radial flux motor technology used in most EVs on the market. It supplies motors for high-performance hybrid and electric production cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg and Mercedes-AMG, and opened what it describes as the UK's first axial flux motor factory in 2025.

The yokeless and segmented armature axial flux design gives shorter axial length, lower weight and higher power and torque density than conventional radial flux motors, which YASA quantifies as up to four times the performance at roughly half the size and weight. Use of pressed Soft Magnetic Composite pole pieces addresses the historic manufacturability, cooling, air-gap control and winding problems that limited axial flux commercialisation, and the design and processes are protected by more than 150 patents.

Technology

YASA's core technology is a yokeless and segmented armature axial flux permanent magnet motor. Removing the stator yoke and segmenting the stator into discrete pole pieces made from pressed Soft Magnetic Composite material eliminates the laminated construction used in radial machines, simplifies winding, improves cooling and shortens axial length while raising torque and power density. The company also develops motor controllers, at a dedicated team in Welshpool, and has built its own robotic manufacturing machines to produce the motors. It holds more than 150 patents on the armature design and manufacturing processes. Current in-market products deliver 250bhp from a 12kg motor; prototype work reached 550kW (738bhp) from a 13.1kg motor (42kW/kg) and subsequently 750kW (>1,000bhp) short-term peak from a 12.7kg unit, an unofficial power density benchmark of 59kW/kg. Under Project Resilience, backed by UK Government funding, YASA is pursuing two technology pathways for fully rare-earth-free and heavy-rare-earth-free axial flux motors to reduce exposure to concentrated rare-earth magnet supply chains.

Go-to-market

YASA works directly with vehicle manufacturers on integrated drivetrain development programmes and long-term strategic technical partnerships (for example with Lamborghini and, as parent, Mercedes-Benz/AMG), while marketing a catalogue of off-the-shelf motors such as the P400R and 750R to designers in other sectors and inviting proof-of-concept engagements with a route to series production. It also runs talent and brand initiatives such as sponsorship of Formula Student UK, which includes discounted access to its motor technology for competing university teams.

Premium and performance vehicle manufacturers and supercar OEMs (including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg and Mercedes-AMG), plus aerospace/electric flight, marine, motorsport and off-road, industrial (mining, manufacturing, processing) and rail and public transport customers, and powertrain designers seeking off-the-shelf traction, generation and hydraulic-replacement motors.

Geography

Headquartered in Oxford/Oxfordshire, UK, with a serial production facility opened in Kidlington in 2018, an upgraded 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility at Yarnton near Oxford opened in 2025, a controller development team in Welshpool, Wales, and a new headquarters under construction at Bicester Motion. Motors are mass-produced in the UK and Germany, with Mercedes-Benz refitting a Berlin factory for axial flux motor production.

History

Founded in 2009 out of Oxford University, YASA's first product became a reality in 2010, with early applications including four YASA motors in the Jaguar C-X75 hybrid concept developed with Williams Advanced Engineering. In 2013 YASA motors powered a converted Lola Le Mans Prototype to a then sub-1,000kg electric land speed record; YASA-powered cars took an overall win and the first sub-nine-minute electric run at Pikes Peak in 2015 and 2016, and the motors made their production road car debut in the Koenigsegg Regera, unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Speed records on water (2018) and in the air (2021) followed. YASA opened its first e-motor serial production facility in Kidlington near Oxford in 2018 and established a controller development team in Welshpool, Wales. In 2019 it named Ferrari as its first volume-production OEM customer, for the hybrid SF90 Stradale, and closed an £18m funding round. In 2021 YASA became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz to develop motors for the AMG.EA platform; the Mercedes Vision One-Eleven concept using YASA technology was announced in July 2023 and Mercedes-Benz began refitting a Berlin factory for volume axial flux motor production. In 2024 YASA announced an electric drive partnership with Automobili Lamborghini covering the Revuelto V12 hybrid and the Temerario. In May 2025 it opened a £12m-upgraded 60,000 sq ft axial flux factory in Yarnton, Oxfordshire, and construction began on a new headquarters at Bicester Motion.

Risks & controversies

The Project Resilience programme is framed around the automotive industry's exposure to volatile and geographically concentrated rare-earth magnet supply chains, a supply risk relevant to YASA's permanent magnet motors.