Tech buy-up will help Mercedes set EV standard

Mercedes-Benz has bought next-generation electric drive technology pioneer, Yasa.

Yasa will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, developing ultra-high-performance e-motors, and retaining its own brand, team, facilities.

It will continue to supply existing supercar customers.

Mercedes says the company will help it develop best-in-class electric drive innovations.

Yasa was founded in 2009, and its proprietary axial-flux electric motor is a step-change from radial electric motor technology.

It says its e-motors “deliver the greatest efficiencies and highest power densities…for the smallest possible size…”.

Yasa and its 250 employees will continue to operate from its headquarters in Oxford, England and provide electric motors for Mercedes’ AMG.EA electric-only platform.

“Working with Mercedes-Benz since 2019, it was always clear that we shared the same commitment to engineering excellence, innovation and reshaping mobility for the electric age,” says Yasa CEO Chris Harris.

“This acquisition…gives Yasa technology the global scale and reach of Mercedes-Benz.”

Mercedes-AMG boss, Philipp Schiemer, says YASA’s “impressive axial-flux technology allows future fully electric Mercedes-AMG performance cars to stay a step ahead of the competition.

“Thanks to electric motors with higher power density and continuous torque delivery we will redefine the future of driving performance.”