A major shift in industrial drive systems is gaining momentum in Nanjing’s Jiangning District. Based in the Tangshan Resort area, Nanjing LeadTron Motor Technology Co., Ltd. has become one of the first Chinese companies to move axial‑flux motors from lab‑scale R&D to commercial mass production.
Axial‑flux motors are widely regarded as the “power heart” of next‑generation industries—new‑energy vehicles, eVTOL aircraft, and embodied-intelligence robots. Their flat‑disc design enables magnetic fields to run parallel to the output shaft. Compared with conventional radial‑flux motors, they deliver nearly half the volume and weight under identical power output, while lifting energy‑conversion efficiency by roughly 10%.
Axial‑flux motors were first conceived more than two centuries ago, yet large‑scale commercial production remained elusive due to intricate manufacturing requirements and demanding high‑speed control challenges. Founded in 2022 in Jiangning District, Nanjing, by alumni from Nanjing University of Science and Technology and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, LeadTron has completed full theoretical modeling and engineering validation. The company has tested prototypes covering the 10 kW to 100 kW range and achieved system‑level verification at speeds up to 18,000 rpm.
In 2024, the firm co‑developed China’s first axial‑flux in‑wheel motor with a major domestic automaker and completed full‑vehicle road tests. To date, LeadTron has supplied and validated sample units for more than ten leading Chinese enterprises across the NEV and eVTOL sectors. Its proprietary joint‑motor solutions also address two critical pain points for embodied-intelligence robots: limited load capacity and heat buildup during prolonged operation.
Supported by end‑to‑end in‑house R&D and proprietary manufacturing of core components, LeadTron sustains both cost competitiveness and consistent product quality. Its current order backlog exceeds RMB 10 million. A new automated production line is set to go online by the end of 2026, lifting annual capacity to 20,000 units. By 2028, the company aims to achieve full‑scale mass production with an annual output of 100,000 units.
As a domestic pioneer region for axial‑flux motor industrialization, Jiangning District of Nanjing has built a relatively complete supporting industrial chain for high‑end equipment and new‑energy vehicle components. The company’s rapid growth reflects the strength of the local supply chain—spanning material supply, precision machining, and system integration. It also underscores the enabling business environment that local authorities have fostered for industrial‑chain investment and expansion.
