YASA Limited

YASA Limited is a British electric-motor technology company based in Oxfordshire and owned by Mercedes-Benz AG. The company develops and manufactures permanent-magnet axial-flux electric motors, motor controllers and integrated electric-drive solutions. Its name derives from “Yokeless and Segmented Armature,” a description of the company’s axial-flux motor architecture. Unlike the more common radial-flux motor, an axial-flux design places the magnetic flux parallel to the motor’s rotational axis. YASA’s architecture is intended to deliver high torque and power density in a comparatively compact and lightweight package. The company was founded in September 2009 to commercialise technology developed at the University of Oxford. The underlying motor concept had been developed for the Morgan LIFEcar project in 2008 by Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Tim Woolmer, who was then a doctoral student and later became YASA’s chief technology officer. Woolmer also holds patents associated with the company’s motor technology. YASA initially concentrated on high-performance automotive applications, where low mass, compact packaging and high output were particularly valuable. Its motors subsequently appeared in demonstration, racing and production-vehicle programmes involving companies such as Jaguar, Koenigsegg, Ferrari and Drayson Racing. A major commercial step came in 2015, when YASA launched the P400 series for serial production and volume-manufacturer applications. In January 2018, the company opened a production facility with stated capacity of up to 100,000 motors per year. YASA’s technology also gained visibility through motorsport and performance-engineering projects. The Drive eO PP03, equipped with YASA motors, became the first electric vehicle to win the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb outright. A converted Lola Le Mans Prototype using YASA technology was associated with Drayson Racing’s electric land-speed-record programme in 2013. YASA’s automotive portfolio has included standard motors, controllers, custom electric machines and integrated electric drive units. Application formats have included battery-electric and hybrid drivetrains, P2 hybrid systems, P4 e-axle traction motors and range-extender systems. The company has also described potential and actual applications in power generation, hydraulic-system replacement, off-road equipment, marine propulsion, industrial machinery and aerospace. In 2019, Ferrari announced that it had selected a YASA electric motor for the SF90 Stradale, Ferrari’s first series-production hybrid supercar. On 22 July 2021, Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA. Before the transaction, YASA spun out Evolito Limited, transferring rights connected with aviation-oriented development so that aerospace applications could continue through a separate company. Following the acquisition, YASA became part of Mercedes-Benz’s technology base for high-performance electric propulsion while retaining its Oxfordshire engineering identity. In May 2024, YASA received approval to establish a new headquarters at a former Royal Air Force site in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The move formed part of the company’s continuing expansion of its engineering and manufacturing footprint. YASA remains primarily a business-to-business technology and component supplier rather than a consumer-facing vehicle brand. Its customers and partners are vehicle manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers and specialist engineering organisations. The company’s strategic positioning is based on combining high specific power, low weight and compact packaging with scalable manufacturing. The technology is particularly suited to performance-focused electric and hybrid vehicles, although YASA presents the same motor architecture as relevant to a wider set of industrial and transportation applications.

YASA’s origins lie in research at the University of Oxford into compact, high-performance electric machines. Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Tim Woolmer developed an axial-flux permanent-magnet motor for the Morgan LIFEcar project in 2008. The design used a yokeless and segmented armature, giving rise to the YASA name. Axial-flux machines differ from conventional radial-flux motors in the orientation of their magnetic field and are intended to offer a favourable combination of torque, mass and packaging efficiency. YASA Motors Limited was established in September 2009 to commercialise the technology. Dr Tim Woolmer, who had worked on the research as a PhD student, became a central technical figure and later served as chief technology officer. The company’s early commercial focus was high-performance automotive engineering. Its motors were used in specialist vehicles, racing programmes and demonstration cars, including the Jaguar C-X75, Koenigsegg Regera and an electrically converted Lola Le Mans Prototype associated with Drayson Racing. In 2013, the Drayson programme set an electric land-speed record, while the Drive eO PP03 equipped with YASA motors won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb outright. The company moved toward volume production with the P400 series, launched in 2015. This product family was designed as a standardised motor platform for vehicle manufacturers and other customers. YASA later expanded its manufacturing capability, officially opening a first series-production facility in January 2018. The site was described as having capacity for up to 100,000 units annually, reflecting the company’s ambition to support industrial customers rather than remain solely a prototype developer. YASA’s technology gained an important production-vehicle reference in 2019, when Ferrari announced that it had selected a YASA motor for the SF90 Stradale hybrid supercar. This followed earlier use in high-performance and racing applications and helped demonstrate the suitability of axial-flux motors for demanding automotive drivetrains. Alongside standard motors, YASA developed controllers, custom machines and integrated electric drive units for OEM and Tier 1 customers. Its application concepts included P2 hybrid systems, P4 traction motors for electric axles and range-extender powertrains. On 22 July 2021, Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA. Prior to the acquisition, YASA separated aviation-related technology into Evolito Limited, allowing that company to pursue aerospace applications independently. The acquisition placed YASA within Mercedes-Benz’s electric-powertrain technology portfolio and gave the British specialist access to the resources of a major vehicle manufacturer. YASA continued to operate from Oxfordshire and to develop axial-flux motors for high-performance and other demanding applications. In May 2024, YASA received approval to establish a new headquarters at a former RAF site in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The planned site supported the company’s continuing engineering and manufacturing development. By 2025, YASA was publicising increasingly high-output prototype motors. A July announcement described a 13.1 kg motor producing 550 kW, while an October announcement described a 12.7 kg prototype that reached 750 kW peak output on a dynamometer and sustained 350–400 kW. These figures were presented as prototype achievements and as evidence of the potential of YASA’s axial-flux architecture. The company’s stated application range now extends beyond performance cars to off-road vehicles, marine systems, industrial equipment, power generation, hydraulic replacement and aerospace-related technology.

1. 2025High-power prototype announcements

   YASA announced prototype motors with stated outputs of 550 kW and later 750 kW, with very high claimed power-to-weight ratios.

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2. 2024Approval for Bicester headquarters

   YASA received approval to establish a new headquarters at a former RAF base in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

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3. 2021Acquisition by Mercedes-Benz

   Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA on 22 July. Aviation-related rights had previously been spun out into Evolito Limited.

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4. 2019Ferrari selects YASA motor for SF90 Stradale

   Ferrari selected a YASA electric motor for its SF90 Stradale hybrid supercar.

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5. 2018First series-production facility opens

   YASA opened a production facility with stated capacity of up to 100,000 units per year.

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6. 2015P400 series enters serial-production strategy

   YASA launched the P400 series for serial production and volume-manufacturer applications.

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7. 2013Electric land-speed-record programme

   A Lola Le Mans Prototype converted by Drayson Racing and using YASA technology was associated with an electric land-speed record.

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8. 2009YASA Motors is founded

   YASA Motors Limited was founded in September to commercialise the permanent-magnet axial-flux motor technology.

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9. 2008Axial-flux motor developed for the Morgan LIFEcar

   Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Tim Woolmer developed the motor technology at the University of Oxford for the Morgan LIFEcar project.

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High-power-density axial-flux electric propulsion and motor-control technology for automotive and industrial customers.

• P400R SeriesAxial-flux electric motor2015

  The P400R is a production-oriented axial-flux permanent-magnet motor family for high-performance vehicle applications. Reference specifications describe peak output of up to 160 kW at 700 V and peak torque of up to 370 N·m at 450 A. The motor is oil-cooled at the stator and can incorporate additional air cooling. The stated continuous output is up to 100 kW, while the off-the-shelf P400 platform has been described with power density of approximately 6.67 kW/kg.

• YASA 750RAxial-flux electric motor

  The 750R is described as the larger and more powerful member of YASA’s standard motor range. It is specified at up to 200 kW peak power at 700 V and up to 790 N·m peak torque, with stated continuous operating power of up to 70 kW. Its intended use is demanding electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion where high torque and compact packaging are priorities.

• Standard Motors and ControllersElectric propulsion components

  YASA’s standard portfolio combines axial-flux electric motors with compatible motor controllers for vehicle and industrial integration. These products have been used in high-performance cars, racing vehicles and specialist engineering programmes. The standardised approach is intended to shorten development cycles while retaining the low-mass and high-power characteristics associated with YASA’s axial-flux architecture.

• Custom Powertrain SolutionsIntegrated electric drive system

  YASA designs custom motors, controllers and integrated electric drive units for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Configurations described by the company include P2 hybrid powertrains, P4 traction motors for electric axles and range-extender systems. Vehicle applications have been associated with power densities of up to 20 kW/kg, although exact performance depends on the customer-specific design and operating requirements.

• High-power prototype motorsPrototype axial-flux motor2025

  In 2025 YASA publicised prototype motors intended to demonstrate the future potential of its axial-flux design. One announced prototype weighed 13.1 kg and produced 550 kW. A later 12.7 kg prototype was reported to have reached 750 kW peak output on a dynamometer, with sustained output of 350–400 kW. These are development prototypes rather than confirmed mass-production products.

• 2024Expansion toward a Bicester headquartersStrategy

  YASA required an expanded base for its engineering and manufacturing activities following its integration with Mercedes-Benz.

  What changed. The company received approval to establish a new headquarters at a former RAF site in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

  Aftermath. The approval supported the planned development of YASA’s Oxfordshire operations, although the source does not specify the completion date or investment value.

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• 2021Acquisition by Mercedes-BenzM&A

  Mercedes-Benz pursued specialist electric-powertrain capabilities, while YASA had developed a differentiated axial-flux motor technology platform.

  What changed. Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA on 22 July 2021. Aviation-related technology rights had been separated into Evolito before the transaction.

  Aftermath. YASA became part of Mercedes-Benz’s technology organisation and continued developing high-performance electric motors in Oxfordshire.

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• 2015Launch of the P400 seriesProduct launch

  YASA sought to move beyond bespoke demonstration and racing projects toward repeatable supply for volume vehicle manufacturers.

  What changed. The company introduced the P400 series as a serial-production axial-flux motor platform.

  Aftermath. The launch established a standard product family alongside YASA’s custom engineering activities.

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• 2025YASA announces a 550 kW prototype axial-flux motor

  YASA announced a prototype rated at 550 kW and weighing 13.1 kg, corresponding to a claimed power density of 42 kW per kilogram.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2025YASA reports a 750 kW prototype test result

  In October, YASA announced an updated 12.7 kg prototype that produced 750 kW of peak power on a dynamometer, with stated sustained output of 350–400 kW.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2024YASA receives approval for new Bicester headquarters

  YASA received approval to establish a new headquarters at a former RAF site in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

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• 2021Mercedes-Benz acquires YASA

  Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA on 22 July, bringing the axial-flux motor specialist into its technology and electric-powertrain organisation.

  M&A
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• 2019Ferrari selects YASA motor for SF90 Stradale

  Ferrari announced the selection of a YASA electric motor for the SF90 Stradale, its first series-production hybrid supercar.

  Product launchOther
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• 2018YASA opens production facility with stated annual capacity of 100,000 units

  The company officially opened its first series-production facility in January, marking an expansion from development and specialist programmes toward industrial-scale manufacturing.

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• 2015YASA launches P400 series for serial production

  YASA introduced the P400 series as a production-oriented axial-flux motor family intended for volume-manufacturer applications.

  Product launchProduct generation
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1. YASA Limited