Motor manufacturer YASA, which was spun out from the University of Oxford in 2009, has raised £15 million in a new round of funding, bringing the total raised by the company to £35 million.

The company also announced the signing of long-term development and supply agreements with several automotive customers, and the opening of a new motor production facility in Oxford with a capacity of 100,000 units per year.

YASA says its axial-flux motor design offers best-in-class power and torque densities, and is ideally suited to both hybrid and EV applications.

YASA’s motors power vehicles from Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover and Williams Advanced Engineering. YASA motors are also used in marine and aerospace applications, in which high power density and torque density are critical.

Eighty per cent of the company’s production is destined for export to automotive manufacturers around the world, including China.

“YASA has unique and highly differentiated axial-flux motor technology that offers clear advantages in terms of power and torque density compared to their competition in class,” said Andrew Birrell of investor Universal Partners, who will be joining YASA’s board.

“Our customers are looking to adopt innovative new technologies such as YASA’s axial-flux electric motors and controllers in order to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding hybrid and pure electric automotive market,” said CEO Dr. Chris Harris. “This additional growth funding will enable YASA to further invest in the volume production capacity necessary to meet our customers’ requirements, and to address markets beyond automotive, including aerospace and marine.”

Source: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy