Finding
Most EVs use permanent magnet motors because nothing else matches their efficiency, so automakers are reducing heavy rare earths rather than leaving NdFeB
Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) power nearly every BYD, Hyundai, VW MEB and Tesla rear axle because they are the most efficient across a real driving cycle. Induction motors (Tesla front axles) and wound-rotor motors (BMW Gen5 and Neue Klasse, Renault, Nissan Ariya) use no magnets and give up some efficiency or add rotor excitation. Axial flux motors from YASA, owned by Mercedes-Benz, are entering production in AMG models.
The electrical steel core matters as much as the magnet for efficiency. Traction motors use thin non-grain-oriented (NGO) silicon steel, 0.20 to 0.30 mm thick, to cut high-frequency losses. Grain-oriented steel (GOES) is a transformer material and is not used in rotating motors. Chinese mills (Baowu, Shougang) lead NGO volume, followed by POSCO, Nippon Steel, JFE, voestalpine and Cleveland-Cliffs, the only US producer.
Tesla, BYD, GM, Hyundai, BMW and Volkswagen design and build their own motors; Tesla builds drive units at Giga Texas. Most other automakers buy motors or complete e-axles from Tier 1s, and the supplier base is consolidating: Vitesco merged into Schaeffler in 2024, Dauch (formerly American Axle) took over GKN Automotive in early 2026, and ZF and Nidec have both cut back their e-drive businesses. Chinese suppliers - Huawei DriveONE, Inovance, UAES and FinDreams - now win business from automakers outside their own groups.
The tables below track 45 traction motor programs and suppliers, 12 of them headquartered in China and 28 of them suppliers that sell to other automakers.
Types
Five Motor Types, Three Without Magnets
Permanent magnet motors lead on efficiency; induction, wound-rotor and reluctance motors avoid rare earths.
| Motor type | Examples | Advantage | Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) | BYD, Hyundai E-GMP, VW MEB, Tesla rear motors | Highest efficiency and power density | NdFeB with Dy or Tb; China supply risk |
| Induction (IM) | Tesla Model 3 and Model Y front motors; Audi e-tron (first generation) | No magnets; robust; free-spinning when unpowered | Lower part-load efficiency; heavier |
| Wound-rotor synchronous (EESM) | BMW Gen5 and Neue Klasse, Renault Megane E-Tech, Nissan Ariya | No magnets; field can be weakened at speed | Rotor excitation via brushes or wireless exciter |
| Axial flux PM | YASA (Mercedes-AMG); Renault with Whylot | Highest torque density, short and flat | Manufacturing scale-up; still uses magnets |
| Switched reluctance (SRM) | Industrial drives; no volume EV | No magnets; simple rotor | Torque ripple, noise, complex control |
| Part | Material | Advantage | Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnet | Sintered NdFeB with Dy or Tb | Highest energy density | China makes ~90%; export licenses |
| Magnet | Ferrite | Cheap, no rare earths | About a third of NdFeB strength; larger motor |
| Magnet | Iron nitride, other rare earth free | No rare earths | Pilot scale (Niron) |
| Core | Thin NGO electrical steel, 0.20-0.30 mm | Low loss at high frequency | Thin-gauge capacity limited |
| Core | Amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys | Very low core loss | Brittle, hard to stamp; not in volume traction motors |
Automakers
Automakers That Build Their Own Motors
Tesla, BYD, GM, Hyundai, BMW, Volkswagen and the leading Chinese EV makers design their motors in-house; some also sell drive units to other brands. Chinese companies are listed first within each status.
| Automaker | HQ | Products | Technology | Plants | Key customers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD (FinDreams Powertrain) | China | 3-in-1, 8-in-1 and 12-in-1 e-axles; 1,000 V Super e-Platform motor (2025) | PMSM, SiC, 800-1,000 V | China | BYD, Denza, Fangchengbao, Yangwang; Toyota bZ3 (BYD Toyota EV Technology) | active |
| Geely (VREMT) | China | E-drive units from Viridi E-Mobility Technology | PMSM, SiC, 800 V | China | Geely, Zeekr, Lynk & Co | active |
| Leapmotor | China | In-house electric drive units | PMSM | China (Jinhua) | Leapmotor; Leapmotor International (Stellantis) | active |
| NIO (XPT) | China | XPT induction front and PMSM rear drive units | PMSM, induction, SiC, 900 V | China (Nanjing) | NIO, ONVO, firefly | active |
| Xiaomi | China | HyperEngine V8s motor (in-house); V6 and V6s | PMSM, up to 27,200 rpm | China (Beijing) | Xiaomi SU7, YU7 | active |
| BMW Group | Germany | Gen5 eDrive; Gen6 eDrive for Neue Klasse | EESM (no magnets) | Germany (Dingolfing), Austria (Steyr), China (Shenyang) | BMW, MINI | active |
| Ford | US | Electric motors and transaxles | PMSM | US (Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center, Sterling Heights, Michigan) | Ford | active |
| General Motors | US | Ultium Drive units (front, rear and dual-motor) | PMSM | US | Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX | active |
| Hyundai Motor Group | South Korea | E-GMP and eM platform motors | PMSM, 800 V | South Korea | Hyundai, Kia, Genesis | active |
| Lucid | US | Lucid drive units for Air and Gravity | PMSM, 900 V | US (Casa Grande, Arizona) | Lucid; Aston Martin (2023 supply agreement) | active |
| Mercedes-Benz | Germany | eATS 2.0 drive units (CLA, MMA platform); AMG axial flux motors from YASA | PMSM, axial flux, 800 V SiC | Germany (Untertuerkheim, Berlin-Marienfelde) | Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG | active |
| Nissan | Japan | Ariya wound-rotor motor | EESM (no magnets) | Japan | Nissan | active |
| Renault Group (Ampere) | France | E7A wound-rotor motor (Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech) | EESM (no magnets) | France (Cleon) | Renault | active |
| Rivian | US | Enduro drive units (in-house since Gen 2) | PMSM | US (Normal, Illinois) | Rivian | active |
| Stellantis (Emotors) | France | eM motors for e-CMP and STLA platforms | PMSM | France (Tremery) | Peugeot, Opel, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep | active |
| Tesla | US | Drive units: induction front motors, permanent magnet synchronous reluctance rear motors; carbon-sleeved rotor (Model S and X Plaid) | PMSM, induction | US (Fremont, Giga Nevada, Giga Texas), China (Shanghai), Germany (Berlin) | Tesla | active |
| Volkswagen Group | Germany | APP550 and APP310 motors for MEB; PPE motors with Audi | PMSM | Germany (Kassel), China | Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra; Ford Explorer and Capri (MEB) | active |
Motor suppliers
Traction Motor and E-Axle Suppliers
Tier 1 suppliers and specialists that sell motors or complete e-axles to automakers. Active companies first, then acquired and merged businesses kept for their history; Chinese suppliers first within each status.
| Supplier | Type | HQ | Products | Technology | Plants | Key customers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRRC Times Electric | Tier 1 | China | Electric drive systems for passenger and commercial vehicles | PMSM, SiC | China (Zhuzhou) | active | |
| Huawei Digital Power (DriveONE) | Tier 1 | China | All-in-one electric drive (motor, reducer, inverter, DC-DC, OBC) | PMSM, SiC, 800 V | China | Seres (AITO), Chery (Luxeed), JAC (Maextro), BAIC (Stelato) | active |
| Inovance (Suzhou Inovance Automotive) | Tier 1 | China | Electric drive assemblies and motors | PMSM, 800 V | China (Suzhou) | Li Auto, Xiaomi (V6), GAC Aion, Chery | active |
| Jing-Jin Electric (JJE) | Tier 1 | China | Traction motors and e-axles for passenger and commercial vehicles | PMSM | China (Beijing) | active | |
| UAES (United Automotive Electronic Systems) | Tier 1 | China | E-axles and traction motors | PMSM | China (Shanghai) | Xiaomi (V6), SAIC | active |
| Zhejiang Founder Motor | Tier 1 | China | Traction motors | PMSM | China (Lishui) | active | |
| Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor (Shanghai Edrive) | Tier 1 | China | Traction motors and drive systems | PMSM | China (Zhongshan, Shanghai) | active | |
| Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) | specialist | UK | HDSRM switched reluctance motors | Switched reluctance (no magnets) | UK (Washington, Tyne and Wear) | Commercial vehicle pilots | active |
| Aisin | Tier 1 | Japan | eAxle | PMSM | Japan, China | Toyota, Lexus | active |
| BluE Nexus | Tier 1 | Japan | eAxle | PMSM | Japan | Toyota | active |
| BorgWarner | Tier 1 | US | iDM integrated drive modules; HVH hairpin motors | PMSM, SiC (Viper), 800 V | US, Mexico, Hungary, Poland, China (Tianjin, Wuhan) | active | |
| Bosch | Tier 1 | Germany | eAxle and eMotor families; 800 V SiC inverters | PMSM, SiC, 800 V | Germany (Hildesheim), Hungary (Miskolc), China, Mexico | active | |
| Dana (TM4) | Tier 1 | US | SUMO motors; Spicer Electrified e-axles for trucks and buses | PMSM | Canada (Boucherville, Quebec), US, Italy, China | Commercial vehicle OEMs | active |
| Dauch Corporation (formerly American Axle) | Tier 1 | US | 3-in-1 electric drive units; owns GKN Automotive | PMSM | US, Mexico, China | Jaguar Land Rover | active |
| Elaphe | specialist | Slovenia | In-wheel motors | Outer-rotor PMSM | Slovenia (Ljubljana) | active | |
| Equipmake | specialist | UK | Spoke-rotor motors, inverters and bus repower drives | PMSM | UK (Snetterton, Norfolk) | active | |
| Hitachi Astemo | Tier 1 | Japan | Traction motors, inverters and e-axles | PMSM | Japan, China, US | Honda | active |
| LG Magna e-Powertrain | Tier 1 | South Korea | Traction motors, inverters and onboard chargers | PMSM | South Korea (Incheon), China (Nanjing), Mexico (Ramos Arizpe), Hungary (Miskolc) | GM | active |
| Magna | Tier 1 | Canada | EtelligentDrive e-drives (eDS) | PMSM, EESM | Austria, Germany, China | active | |
| Mahle | Tier 1 | Germany | Traction motors; SCT magnet-free motor with contactless rotor excitation | PMSM, EESM | Slovenia, China | active | |
| Nidec | Tier 1 | Japan | E-Axle Ni100Kr, Ni150Kr and Ni200Kr | PMSM | China (Pinghu, Zhejiang; Guangzhou joint venture with GAC), Serbia (Novi Sad), Mexico | GAC Aion | active |
| Schaeffler (incl. Vitesco Technologies) | Tier 1 | Germany | 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 e-axles; EMR3 and EMR4 drives from Vitesco | PMSM, 800 V | Germany, Hungary, Czechia, China (Tianjin, Taicang) | Hyundai and Kia (EMR3) | active |
| Valeo (Valeo eAutomotive) | Tier 1 | France | 800 V e-axles; rare-earth-free EESM | PMSM, EESM | Germany (Bad Neustadt, Erlangen), Hungary (Mezokovesd), China (Changshu, Tianjin) | Renault (rare-earth-free EESM program) | active |
| ZF | Tier 1 | Germany | EVSys800 e-drives; I2SM wound-rotor motor with inductive exciter | PMSM, EESM, SiC, 800 V | Germany (Schweinfurt), Serbia (Pancevo), China | active | |
| Avid Technology | specialist | UK | Motors and drive systems for commercial and off-highway vehicles | PMSM, axial flux | UK (Cramlington) | acquired (Acquired by Turntide Technologies (2021)) | |
| GKN Automotive | Tier 1 | UK | eDrive systems; eTwinster torque-vectoring units | PMSM, 800 V | UK, Germany, China, Japan | acquired (Parent Dowlais acquired by Dauch Corporation (formerly American Axle), completed early 2026) | |
| YASA | specialist | UK | Axial flux motors | Axial flux PM | UK (Yarnton, Oxfordshire), Germany (Berlin-Marienfelde) | Mercedes-AMG (AMG.EA platform) | acquired (Owned by Mercedes-Benz since 2021) |
| Vitesco Technologies | Tier 1 | Germany | EMR3 and EMR4 electric drives | PMSM | Germany, Hungary, China | merged (Merged into Schaeffler in October 2024) |
Cores and magnets
Motor Core and Magnet Suppliers
Lamination stampers that build stator and rotor stacks from thin electrical steel, and the NdFeB and rare-earth-free magnet plants that supply rotor magnets. Capacity, customers and process detail for each magnet plant are on Magnet Manufacturing for Motors.
| Supplier | HQ | Products | Process | Plants | Key customers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiangsu Tongda Power Technology | China | Motor cores and laminations | Stamped | China (Nantong) | |
| Ningbo Zhenyu Technology | China | Motor core laminations; battery structural parts | Stamped | China (Ningbo) | |
| Euro Group | Italy | Stator and rotor lamination stacks | Stamped, interlocked | Italy, Mexico, China | |
| Kienle + Spiess | Germany | Stamped and bonded lamination stacks for rotors and stators | Stamped, bonded | Germany (Sachsenheim), Hungary | |
| Mitsui High-tec | Japan | High-speed stamped motor cores | Stamped, interlocked | Japan (Kitakyushu), Mexico, Canada, China | Toyota |
| POSCO International | South Korea | Traction motor cores | Stamped | South Korea (Pohang), Mexico, Poland, China, India | Hyundai Motor Group |
| Tempel (Worthington Steel) | US | Motor and transformer laminations; traction motor cores | Stamped, bonded | US, Mexico, Canada, China, India | |
| voestalpine | Austria | compacore bonded lamination stacks | Bonded (backlack) | Austria, China |
| Magnet maker | Plant | Location | Product | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baotou Tianhe Magnetics | Baotou plant | Baotou, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Earth-Panda Advanced Magnetic Material | Lu'an and Baotou plants | Lu'an, Baotou, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Innuovo Technology (Hengdian Group) | Magnet plants | Dongyang, Baotou, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| JL Mag Rare-Earth | All bases | Ganzhou, Baotou, Ningbo, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Ningbo Yunsheng | Ningbo and Baotou plants | Ningbo, Baotou, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Yantai Zhenghai Magnetic | Yantai and Baotou plants | Yantai, Baotou, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Zhong Ke San Huan | Multiple plants | Beijing, Ningbo, Tianjin, China | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Fujian Golden Dragon Rare-Earth (Xiamen Tungsten) | Magnetic material project | Longyan, China | sintered NdFeB | announced |
| Daido Electronics | Magnet plant | Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan | hot-deformed NdFeB | operating |
| Heraeus Remloy | Bitterfeld-Wolfen plant | Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany | recycled sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Noveon Magnetics | San Marcos plant | San Marcos, Texas, US | recycled sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals) | Magnet plants | Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Shin-Etsu Chemical | Shin-Etsu Magnetic Materials Vietnam | Hai Phong, Vietnam | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Shin-Etsu Chemical | Takefu plant | Echizen, Fukui, Japan | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Star Group Industrial | Magnet plant | Daegu, South Korea | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| TDK | Magnet plants | Akita, Japan | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| Vacuumschmelze (VAC) | Hanau plant | Hanau, Germany | sintered NdFeB | operating |
| e-VAC Magnetics (VAC) | Sumter plant | Sumter, South Carolina, US | sintered NdFeB | ramping |
| MP Materials | Independence | Fort Worth, Texas, US | sintered NdFeB | ramping |
| Neo Performance Materials | Narva magnet plant | Narva, Estonia | sintered NdFeB | ramping |
| HyProMag | Tyseley plant | Birmingham, UK | recycled sintered NdFeB | commissioning |
| USA Rare Earth | Stillwater plant | Stillwater, Oklahoma, US | sintered NdFeB | commissioning |
| MP Materials | 10X campus | Northlake, Texas, US | sintered NdFeB | under construction |
| Niron Magnetics | Sartell plant | Sartell, Minnesota, US | iron nitride | under construction |
| Vulcan Elements | Magnet plant | Benson, North Carolina, US | sintered NdFeB | announced |
Risks
Where Motor Supply Breaks
Magnets are the acute risk; thin electrical steel is the slower one.
| Risk | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Rare earth concentration | China refines ~84% of magnet rare earths and makes ~90% of magnets; licenses since April 2025 | MP, Lynas, VAC, Neo capacity; heavy rare earth reduction; recycling (Noveon) |
| Electrical steel | Thin NGO capacity concentrated in China, Japan and Korea | Cleveland-Cliffs and new NGO lines; long-term mill contracts |
| Copper and winding automation | Hairpin welding and insulation set yield | In-house winding; automation suppliers |
| Design lock-in | Magnet grade is qualified to each motor; switching takes years | Dual-qualified grades; EESM and induction alternatives |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- Traction Motors and Magnets
- Sources
- Automaker and supplier disclosures; IEA; ElectronsX motor and magnet datasets
- Updated
- October 2026