Mercedes-Benz begins mass production of axial flux EV motors

Mercedes-Benz has moved its axial flux electric motor from development into large-scale production, a milestone in the company’s push to bring the technology in-house rather than rely on conventional drive units. The motor design traces back to YASA, the British axial flux specialist Mercedes acquired in 2021, and is slated for the automaker’s high-performance electric platforms.

Axial flux motors differ from the radial flux machines used in most EVs today: the magnetic flux runs parallel to the axis of rotation, producing a flat, pancake-shaped motor that delivers substantially higher power and torque density at a fraction of the weight and packaging volume. Until now the design has been confined to low-volume applications — hypercars, aviation prototypes — because manufacturing the segmented stators at scale is difficult. Industrializing that process is the real story here.

If Mercedes can produce these motors at automotive volumes and cost, it gains a differentiated powertrain component competitors can’t simply buy off the shelf, and it signals that axial flux technology is graduating from niche engineering showcase to mainstream EV hardware. Expect the first applications in AMG’s electric performance lineup before any trickle-down to broader model ranges.