GAC Group has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Dongguan Institute of Materials Science and Technology to jointly develop amorphous alloy technology for automotive electric drive systems, according to Gasgoo. The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and production lines, marking a significant step in commercializing this advanced material.
Amorphous alloy: a material breakthrough
Amorphous alloy, also known as 'metallic glass' or 'hand-tear steel' in the industry, is produced as a strip just 0.025 millimeters thick—about one-fifth the thickness of a human hair. Its unique disordered atomic structure gives it far higher magnetic permeability than traditional silicon steel, significantly reducing eddy current and hysteresis losses in electric motors. However, the material's thinness and brittleness have made mass production at automotive grade extremely challenging.
GAC and the Dongguan institute claim to have overcome these hurdles, achieving the world's first mass production of amorphous alloy electric drives. Official data shows the motor achieves a peak efficiency of 99.03%, with the overall drive system efficiency reaching 94.184% under working conditions. The motor can spin up to 30,000 rpm, and the production motor's power density is 17.29 kW per kilogram. GAC says this efficiency translates to 'one extra kilometer per kilowatt-hour' compared to conventional motors.
From lab to production line
On the industrialization front, the partners are building a complete value chain covering research, pilot testing, mass production, and market deployment. GAC Aion's intelligent eco-factory, described as the world's only 'lighthouse factory' for new energy vehicles, will support large-scale manufacturing of the drive system.
The first vehicle to feature the amorphous alloy electric drive will be the 2027 model year Aion RT. This marks a key milestone in bringing a cutting-edge strategic material from basic research to mass-produced passenger vehicles, offering a practical example of industry-academia collaboration in the new energy vehicle sector.
