Magna, together with the Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the U.S. Department of Energy, has started a new EV electric motor project.

The objective is to develop and 'auto-qualify' an automotive-grade, non-permanent magnet electric motor for next-generation vehicles, which would offer higher power density at a lower cost.

The targets are really impressive, as the project envisions a 125 kW (peak) motor with:

eight times the power density

half the cost

However, the press release does not provide us the base "of currently available e-motors" for relative targets. The new drive unit will be ready in 2021.