UK’s YASA Secures Government Funding for ‘Project Resilience’ to Develop Rare-Earth-Free Axial Flux Motors

August 17, 2026

Autocar Professional Bureau UK

Overview

YASA has secured UK government funding for “Project Resilience,” a program to develop rare-earth-free and heavy-rare-earth-free axial flux electric motor technologies. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on geopolitically sensitive rare-earth materials while meeting the performance and cost requirements of future electric and hybrid vehicles. YASA plans to develop both heavy-rare-earth-free permanent magnet motor designs and fully rare-earth-free axial flux motor technology.

In Depth

Key Findings

YASA, a UK-based electric motor manufacturer, has successfully secured government funding from the UK for “Project Resilience.” This program is dedicated to advancing the development of both rare-earth-free and heavy-rare-earth-free axial flux electric motor technologies. This pivotal project aims to reduce dependence on geopolitically sensitive rare-earth materials while simultaneously meeting the stringent performance and cost demands of future electric and hybrid vehicles.

Technical / Clinical Details

At the heart of Project Resilience is YASA’s commitment to adapting its advanced axial flux motor technology to operate without rare-earth materials, or by significantly minimizing the use of heavy rare-earth elements. Specifically, the project targets the development of both heavy-rare-earth-free permanent magnet motor designs and fully rare-earth-free axial flux motor technology. Heavy rare-earths are typically employed to enhance magnetic strength at high temperatures, but their supply is concentrated in specific regions, leading to price volatility and supply disruption risks. YASA’s approach combines innovative magnet material compositions with advanced motor structural designs, aiming to maintain the high torque density, efficiency, and compactness required for EVs while drastically reducing rare-earth usage. This will improve the sustainability and cost stability of motors, enabling EV manufacturers to bring more competitive products to market.

Background & Context

The global automotive industry is undergoing a rapid transition towards electrification, leading to an explosive demand for high-performance and reliable electric motors. Concurrently, rare-earth elements, which are essential raw materials for the permanent magnets critical to EV motors, face concerns regarding their environmental impact during mining and refining, as well as geopolitical risks due to concentrated supply. The UK government is actively supporting domestic rare-earth-free technology development to address these issues, aiming to strengthen supply chains and accelerate the transition to a decarbonized society.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

YASA’s Project Resilience is expected to accelerate the commercialization of rare-earth-free motor technology, significantly impacting the entire EV industry. If successful, this technology will liberate the industry from supply insecurities and price fluctuations associated with rare-earths, enabling the production of more affordable and sustainable EVs. This will further boost EV adoption and contribute to global decarbonization goals. Future steps will involve performance evaluation, durability testing, and establishing mass production capabilities for the developed motors. YASA is poised to further consolidate its leadership in the electric powertrain market and drive the future of sustainable mobility through this technology.

Source: https://www.autocarpro.in/news/yasa-secures-uk-funding-for-rare-earth-free-axial-flux-motor-development-134040

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