Advanced Electric Machine, or AEM, is a UK-based manufacturer of rare-earth-free electric motors for automotive, commercial vehicle, industrial, and marine applications. Founded in 2017 as a spinout from Newcastle University, the company commercializes motor technology developed through research led by James Widmer and Andy Steven. Based in Washington, northeast England, AEM develops motors for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, buses, construction machinery and industrial equipment. Its technology eliminates permanent magnets, reducing reliance on rare-earth materials used in many conventional electric motors. These materials are subject to concentrated global supply chains, exposing manufacturers to potential export restrictions and price fluctuations.

AEM’s designs eliminate permanent magnets and use aluminum windings instead of copper in relevant products. These choices change the materials and manufacturing processes required to produce the motors while removing the need for rare-earth materials in permanent magnets. Manufacturers must still assess efficiency, torque, weight, thermal performance, operating speed, and production costs before adopting alternative motor technology. Compatibility with inverters, cooling systems and existing vehicle architectures also matters. Commercial adoption will depend on each motor meeting the performance and cost requirements of its intended application while reducing reliance on materials used in conventional permanent-magnet designs.

Motors for Different Vehicle Classes

AEM’s HDRM product family serves heavy commercial vehicles and industrial applications. The HDRM150 is designed for auxiliary drives and generator duties, while the HDRM300C serves traction applications. Depending on the configuration, these motors can propel a vehicle or generate electricity for onboard systems. Auxiliary uses include pumps, fans and other electrically driven components. In an electric axle, a motor can also function as a generator during deceleration, converting some of the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity for recovery and reuse.

AEM also develops motor technology for passenger cars and other transport applications, each with distinct engineering requirements. Passenger cars need compact motors that meet cost and packaging constraints, while heavy trucks require high torque to move large loads. Construction machinery and off-highway vehicles may need electric drives for traction, hydraulic equipment or auxiliary systems. Each application requires testing for power output, operating speed, thermal performance, durability and compatibility with vehicle electronics. Securing production contracts will depend on meeting these requirements at a cost vehicle manufacturers can accept. AEM’s portfolio spans products already used in commercial applications and newer designs still in development.

Titan Targets Heavy Commercial Vehicles

AEM unveiled Titan, the largest and highest-torque motor in its HDRM family, at IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany, in September 2026. Designed for heavy commercial vehicles, Titan delivers peak output of up to 700 kilowatts and peak torque of 5,000 newton-meters. Its rated continuous output is 500 kilowatts, with continuous torque of 3,500 newton-meters. The motor reaches a maximum speed of 4,000 revolutions per minute and has a dry weight of approximately 200 kilograms. Like other HDRM products, Titan operates without permanent magnets or rare-earth materials. The exhibition featured a detailed 3D concept rather than a production-ready motor.

Initial physical samples are scheduled for the third quarter of 2027. Titan has not yet reached production, and no mass-production date or confirmed production orders have been publicly identified. Vehicle manufacturers will need to test the motor in complete powertrains, examining efficiency across operating speeds, thermal management, durability, inverter compatibility and the effect of its weight on vehicle payload. Motor-level specifications alone do not establish the efficiency or range of a complete electric truck. Fleet operators will also weigh purchase price, maintenance requirements and energy consumption when comparing electric drivetrains. Working samples and validation in intended vehicle applications will be important milestones before commercial deployment.

Funding and Production Expansion

In August 2026, AEM secured £16 million through an investment round involving existing shareholders and new investors, alongside loan financing from Innovate UK. Investors included Barclays Climate Ventures, PXN Ventures, Northstar Ventures and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. The funds are intended to expand the product portfolio, develop higher-power and higher-torque motors, and increase manufacturing capacity in Washington. The financing followed a £23 million funding round announced in 2023, giving AEM additional capital to pursue larger commercial vehicle and industrial applications.

At IAA Transportation 2026, AEM also presented an integrated air-cooled electric drive system pairing the HDRM150 motor with a matched air-cooled inverter. The package operates at voltages of up to 700 volts and delivers peak motor output above 30 kilowatts. Its air-cooled design removes the need for liquid-cooling circuits, pumps, and associated plumbing. The HDRM150 was also displayed as a generator in a SAF-HOLLAND TRAKr electric axle for regenerative energy recovery. While the integrated drive serves auxiliary electrification needs in off-highway equipment, Titan extends AEM’s portfolio into higher-power propulsion. Commercial growth will depend on customer validation, production costs, manufacturing capacity, and demonstrated performance in vehicles and industrial equipment.

ABOUT | DR. JAMES WIDMER

Dr. James Widmer is the founder and chief executive officer of Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), a UK-based manufacturer of rare-earth-free electric motors. He co-founded the company in 2017 to commercialize electric motor technology developed through research at Newcastle University. Before entering academia, Widmer spent approximately 12 years in the aerospace industry, including senior engineering and programme leadership roles at BAE Systems. He later completed a Ph.D. at Newcastle University, where he conducted research into electric machines and led work on advanced electrical drives. He also served as director of the Electric Machines Spoke at the UK’s Advanced Propulsion Centre and became a professor of automotive powertrain electrification at Coventry University. His work spans electric motor engineering, vehicle electrification and the commercialization of magnet-free motor technology.