YASA develops axial flux motors to reduce rare earth dependency

YASA, a British subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, has launched ‘Project Resilience’ to develop next-generation axial flux electric motors that reduce or eliminate reliance on rare earth elements. The initiative, based in Oxford, is supported by the UK government’s DRIVE35 program.

The project follows two distinct technical paths using a shared stator platform. The first path aims to create high-performance motors for electric and hybrid vehicles that utilize permanent magnets without heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium, while maintaining high power density through direct oil cooling. The second path focuses on the mass market, aiming to develop motors that are entirely free of rare earth materials in the rotor to prioritize cost-efficiency and supply chain stability.

Reducing dependence on rare earths addresses critical vulnerabilities in the automotive supply chain, particularly regarding the concentration of raw material processing in China. While YASA’s axial flux technology is already utilized in high-performance models like the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé, this new development seeks to make the technology more sustainable and economically resilient for broader automotive applications.